Alupro’s Tom Giddings to present DRS updates for UK in the Environmental Packaging Summit 2022

This year’s Environmental Packaging Summit will host the executive director of Alupro, Tom Giddings as a speaker. During the event, from 2-3 November, Giddings would lend his opinion on how to build a successful deposit return scheme (DRS) in the UK. 

As part of the panel, Giddings will present his ideologies on how, if formulated and administered properly, a DRS in the UK could benefit the recycling rates of aluminium packages. The related event, ‘Recyclable: Recycled – A changing ratio?’ will commence at 1.45 pm in the main hall.

The event has been scheduled to take place in the Coventry Building Society Arena, where well-established businesses would be present from around the packaging sector to converse about the difficulties in the supply chain.

The Environmental Packaging Summit has been organised by Packaging News, a leading magazine that presents its readers with essential information on the packaging sector. The two-day event will encompass variable topics like forming net-zero schemes, parting with single-use materials and introducing more refillable packaging.

Besides that, the programme manager of Alupro’s Every Can Counts consumer engagement scheme, Chris Latham-Ward, will display how the mentioned campaign is aiding in maximising on-the-go recycling rates.

Chris will participate in the discussion panel accompanied by Sam Longworth, the project coordinator at Hubbub, and the executive director of OPRL, Margaret Bates, to discuss whether on-the-go recycling is a forgotten but beneficial activity in the national packaging supply chain.

Discussions about carbon reduction and DRS will occur on the first day of the event, while concerns about the reusable and refillable packaging sector will be addressed the day after. The event will solely focus on how the government body can assist in streamlining the design and utility of materials.

After his presentation, Tom will chair a panel discussion to argue about the extreme hurdles one must overcome to implement a well-composed DRS.

While confirming his views on the debate, Tom Giddings commented: “With significant policy changes set to transform the packaging industry over the coming years, we’re looking forward to sharing our thoughts and participating in debate to discuss the future of metal packaging recycling and its role in stimulating the circular economy of tomorrow. “The Summit also provides a great opportunity to shout about the successes of our wider campaigns, with Chris representing Every Can Counts and exploring how our initiatives are encouraging consumers to recycle while on-the-go. We’ll be reiterating the importance of the infrastructure changes needed to move ever closer towards a 100% recycling rate.”

Other than the names mentioned, there will be other leading advocates from different firms; including the policy lead for DRS at DEFRA, David Gell, the lead packaging and recycling advisor at British Glass, Phil Fenton and the head of customer marketing at Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I, Mathew Deane.