New rules governing OPRL’s recycling labels will give greater transparency on the final fate of packaging, highlighting which pack designs are likely to be landfilled or incinerated. The move is expected to drive more rapid switching into sustainable packaging ahead of Extended Producer Responsibility reforms as new labels are applied over the next three years.

The comprehensive review has drawn together extensive data and evidence, wide consultations and consumer testing. The new rules move the majority of packaging into the binary labelling system of recycle or don’t Recycle. Previously the OPRL label had three categories based solely on council recycling collections: widely recycled, check local recycling and not yet recycled.

Commenting on the review process Stuart Lendrum, chair of the steering group and OPRL board director, said: “This has been the most inclusive, extensive and rigorous review to date of our recycling labelling rules. The results deliver our commitment to give consumers clarity on the true recyclability of packaging. As part of that commitment to transparency and accountability we are making our evidence base publicly available today. As further new evidence becomes available, we will fine tune these rules so that we reflect the UK’s developing recycling technology and infrastructure, and further refining of industry technical standards.”

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