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Rising costs prompted British food companies to lobby for the postponement of 1.7bn plastic packaging tax. Credit: Fevziie / Shutterstock

The UK government’s decision to defer a £1.7bn plastic packaging tax, originally set to be imposed in October 2024, has come under scrutiny following the revelation of lobbying efforts by Britain’s major food brands, The Guardian reported.   

The delay, prompted by concerns over cost and inflationary pressures, has sparked criticism from environmental groups and calls for the Labour government to implement a scheme.  

This extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, designed to make companies responsible for the recycling of their packaging waste, has faced a one-year postponement.   

The Australian Government is launching a public consultation as it aims to overhaul plastic packaging laws in the country. The consultation was launched on 27 September 2024 and stakeholders have until 28 October 2024 to submit their feedback. The proposed legislation aims to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in packaging and mandating a minimum recycled content.  

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in Australia recently conducted a stakeholder update on the public consultation process for Packaging Regulatory Reform.  The meeting, held on 25 September 2024, focused on three potential regulatory reform options aimed at achieving the 2025 National Packaging Targets.  

The European Union has officially adopted a new regulation allowing the use of digital labelling on fertilising products. This move, approved by the Council, marks the final step in the legislative process. 

The regulation encourages the use of digital labels while maintaining physical labels where necessary, simplifying requirements for suppliers and improving the clarity of product information. 

The adoption of digital labels is expected to reduce both costs and bureaucracy for producers. Under the new rules, digital labels, such as QR codes or barcodes, will offer an alternative to traditional packaging labels. 

DS Smith, a provider of packaging solutions, has invested more than €25m ($26m) in its existing facilities in Poland.  

The company invested in its production lines and machinery parks in Kielce, Bełchatów, and Sosnowiec.   

The bulk of the investment, totalling €22m, is being allocated to the expansion of the Kielce packaging facility.  

DS Smith will deploy new machines at the site, including a BOBST Masterline 2.1 die-cutter, which it says will increase automation and precision within its Flexography segment. 

The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking evidence on standardised packaging for tobacco products.  

The call for evidence focuses on all tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, cigarette papers, and herbal smoking products.  

This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to create a smoke-free UK and will explore the potential health impacts and use prevalence associated with standardised packaging.  

The call is open to individuals and organisations within the UK, as well as seeks information from international examples.