Businesses are choosing packaging which contains recycled content, is reusable, refillable or recyclable

Stuart Wilkinson, Sales & Marketing Director at P Wilkinson Containers:

How has the Plastic Packaging Tax affected the packaging industry? 

The UK government introduced the Plastic Packaging Tax to provide a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging. The tax was set at £200 per tonne of plastic packaging if it does not contain at least 30 percent post or pre consumer recycled content (PCR). From the 1st April 2024, the UK government have increased the rate of plastic packaging tax to £217.85 per tonne.  

For P. Wilkinson Containers customers, this tax will have already been paid prior to delivery, and no action is required as a result. 

Although the plastic packaging tax has helped reduce single-use plastic, it has not led to a significant shift towards more manufacturers using recycled plastic as a packaging material, according to a report by the Grocer (2023).   

For some manufacturers, complying with the plastic packaging tax has resulted in sourcing and supply chain issues, stunting businesses’ sustainability growth efforts.  

Are manufacturers now using more recycled content in their packaging? 

We are witnessing more producers opting for plastic with higher post-consumer recyclate (PCR) content.   

From an environmental perspective, PCR packaging saves on waste creation in landfill and pollution and translates into meaningful and measurable reductions in manufacturers’ carbon footprints. 

From a commercial viewpoint, PCR packaging is a great way to attract and retain customers, many of whom expect and demand environmentally friendly, recycled product packaging. Arguably, using PCR plastic packaging – and clearly promoting it on your goods – may be the only way to combat the stigma of plastics among today’s eco-conscious consumers.  

The other major driver of uptake relates to evolving regulations and taxes. To address climate change, most (but not all) European governments have been nudging up their taxes on plastics for some time. 

Mindful that UK plastic tax is likely to increase going forward – as is consumer pressure regarding sustainability – many on-the-fence companies have now embraced PCR packaging. They argue that, over time, PCR also wins the financial argument. 

What are your best-known products and services? 

Our key services include stocking packaging supply for metal, plastic and carton packaging as well as help with the manufacturing, procurement and sourcing of packaging formats.   

We can offer businesses a variety of bespoke and stock packaging option, from custom profiles down to our labelling and printing services, where even our standard packaging lines can be made unique to different brands.  

Unlike ecommerce agents, we hold vast physical stocks in our 130,000sq ft site, which allows us to ensure a continuous supply of packaging to our customers.  

Whether manufacturers use bespoke or stock packaging, we offer digitally printed and full label application for containers.  We’re able to accommodate short runs for complex promotional projects as well as standard runs, all with a fast turnaround. We can also provide in mould labels (IML) and printed options in both flexo and litho print. 

Our UK production facility offers contract packing and filling for dry products into metal, plastic or carton packing. In the case of promotional items and gifts, we develop fitments and source internal fill products. We can also fill and seam ring pull tins if required. Our contract packing ensures that we save time for customers, streamline the supply chains and reduce the risk of production delays.  

We are proud to be a UK/EU manufacturer and distributer and our sister company, William Say & Co, is also the only sizeable factory in Central London, offering manufacturing, label application, packing and promotional filling.  

What are your latest advances in safety, sustainability, and the environment? 

Renewable energy will play a crucial role in packaging manufacturing. Over a decade ago, we took the initiative to install solar panels on every flat roof at our Bermondsey factory site, emphasising our commitment to sustainability.  

As packaging manufacturers, suppliers and stockists, we know how important it is to show that we are actively looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.  This is a key metric in our customer’s procurement process.  

Solar panels generate energy all day and even overnight if there’s a bright, full moon. This energy source is useful to help power our site – our sister canmaking factory, warehouse and offices.  

Our solar farm can be used to power electricity usage, whether it’s recharging a laptop; a hybrid car; e-bikes; forklifts; machinery on the manufacturing line; or charging phones and boiling the kettle at lunchtime. 

Have you made any other innovations you can tell us about? 

We stocked a range of industrial PCR plastic packaging containing two products, a 20-litre Europack canister and a 5-litre compact jerry – both include over thirty percent PCR material.  

Historically, PCR has not always been suitable for certain applications, such as medical or food production, where there is a risk of contamination and there has been a lack of consistency across the material.  

That’s why this new range from our supply partner is so pioneering – using up to 30 percent PCR, it has been rigorously tested by a technical team to ensure that the packaging material performs consistently.   

These new PCR options can be colour-matched to suit individual brand requirements and are just the first in a line of industrial-based plastic solutions that P. Wilkinson Containers are looking to develop with our supply partner going forward.    

Tamper-evident plastic pots are also a popular product, especially for the food industry, for the packaging of sensitive products such as peanut butters and dairy-free cheese. Lightweight yet durable, the tabs on either side of the pot guarantee a high-level of food hygiene while extending the product’s shelf life – ideal for sensitive ingredients.