The Environment Agency have recently published the packaging producer responsibility monitoring plan for 2025 which includes the monitoring policy and the minimum number of persons they propose to monitor. 

 

The Environment Agency monitors compliance of businesses in England that have responsibilities under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. This includes producers (including online marketplaces) and approved compliance schemes. 

 

The Environment Agency also monitors compliance of businesses in England that have responsibilities under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (amended). This includes accredited reprocessors and exporters. 

 

They monitor businesses to make sure that: 

• packaging producers in England contribute to UK recycling targets 

• all obligated producers register 

• producer compliance schemes fulfil their legal duties on behalf of producer members 

• producers and producer compliance schemes provide accurate data on packaging that is handled and recycled in the UK 

• there is accurate data on registered producers 

• reprocessors and exporters comply with their statutory duties, including conditions of accreditation 

• waste packaging is recycled to the right standards 

• waste packaging is recycled legally 

 

You can read the plan in full here  

 

Defra has launched a Simpler Recycling Communications Toolkit which aims to help local authorities and private waste collectors inform businesses and non-domestic customers about recycling changes.  

From 31st March 2025, workplaces (businesses and non-domestic premises) in England will need to recycle the following waste streams: plastic, metal, glass, paper and card, and food waste.  

Simpler Recycling in England for workplaces will enable consistency in the materials collected from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals). Local Authorities and other waste collectors will be able to co-collect some waste streams, retaining flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need.  

The policy statement paper, published in November 2024, confirms the final policy position on Simpler Recycling. A dedicated guidance page has been published to outline how this affects workplaces (businesses and non-domestic premises) and waste collectors collecting from these premises.   

Perforated pallet wrap offers innovative benefits for the frozen food industry, addressing critical challenges such as temperature stability, product integrity, and sustainability. These features make it an ideal solution for supporting the industry-wide shift to storing frozen products at -15°C, a move that promises both environmental and operational advantages. Presented at the British Frozen Food Federation’s Technical Conference in September, this concept has generated significant interest among industry leaders. 

Why -15°C? 

Recent studies on increasing temperatures have demonstrated significant energy savings without compromising the safety and quality of frozen products tested which suggests that a change is possible. Lower energy usage means reduced carbon emissions and operational costs — a win-win for businesses and the planet. For industries committed to sustainability, this adjustment represents a major opportunity to lead by example. 

However, even a 3°C increase in storage temperature presents operational challenges. Ensuring consistent temperature control during transit and storage is paramount, as frozen food is highly sensitive to fluctuations. Addressing these challenges requires practical and effective solutions. 

The Role of Perforated Pallet Wrap 

Perforated pallet wrap is specifically designed to meet these challenges. Unlike traditional wrap that can trap moisture and inhibit airflow, perforated wrap allows for: 

• Enhanced Airflow: The perforations ensure consistent air circulation around the pallet, maintaining stable temperatures and reducing the risk of hot spots and issues with food safety. 

• Condensation Control: Proper airflow minimises condensation, preserving the integrity of packaging, product quality, and pallet stability, while preventing freezer burn. 

• Energy Efficiency: By supporting efficient cooling and air distribution, perforated wrap complements the energy-saving objectives of moving to -15°C; as products can reach and maintain their optimal temperature, as traditional solid pallet wrap blocks air flow. 

• Durability and Stability: Despite its perforated design, our materials provide even better strength and durability over traditional pallet wrap, keeping palletised goods secure during transport and storage. 

A Proven Solution for Frozen Food 

Perforated pallet wrap has already been adopted by food manufacturers across various sectors, including dairy, cheese, and ready meal production, where airflow and temperature control are critical. Products like blue cheese and soft cheeses, for example, benefit immensely from the tailored airflow facilitated by this technology. As the frozen food sector adapts to -15°C, similar benefits can be realised across a wide range of goods, from frozen vegetables to desserts. 

A Step Towards a Sustainable Future 

The move to -15°C is more than an energy-saving initiative; it’s a step towards a more sustainable future for the frozen food industry. Perforated pallet wrap enhances efficiency while ensuring the quality and safety of frozen goods. By bridging the gap between operational practicality and environmental responsibility, this innovation plays a pivotal role in enabling the transition. 

For more information, contact Excelerate Ltd: 

Website: www.excelerateltd.com
Email: info@excelerateltd.com
Phone: 01604 644100 

 

A new parliamentary research project has been approved to consider opportunities and challenges from the production of cultivated meat. 

Cultivated meat is made from animal cells grown in fermenters, where they divide in a solution containing nutrients. Cultivated meat has been approved for human consumption in Singapore, the USA, and Israel. In July 2024, the UK became the first country in Europe to approve the sale of cultivated meat in pet food. 

Cultivated meat may offer a sustainable protein-rich alternative to conventional meat, and play a part in ensuring food security. However, challenges include cost, scalability, regulatory hurdles, and public perception. 

A Parliamentary “POSTnote” dated 7th January 2025 states that it aims to outline the major challenges, opportunities, and risks associated with approving the sale of cultivated meat for human consumption in the UK. It will consider research into environmental, social, nutrition and economic impacts and explore stakeholder perspectives. 

Information on issues relevant to the project are welcomed before 21st February 2025 and should stakeholders be interested to contribute to this research, they are requested to please follow the guidance for contributors. 

Publication is expected in May 2025.  

The Welsh Government has published its response to their draft ‘High Fat Salt Sugar’ (HFSS) Regulations consultation which closed on 23rd September 2024.   

The majority of respondents to the consultation felt that the draft regulations described the restrictions accurately and clearly and stressed the importance of them being aligned with equivalent existing regulations in England. They also asked for Welsh Government to provide clear guidance to help businesses comply with restrictions.  

Responses from the public sector and health organisations/academics largely welcomed the proposed regulations but asked for Welsh Government to consider extending the restrictions to either include additional product categories or introduce additional restrictions such as to Temporary Price Reductions (TPRs). This was in direct contrast to the views expressed by members of the general public who felt the measures set out within the draft regulations were too restrictive. Members of the public also raised concerns about the impact of the regulations on the cost of living. 

Respondents raised a number of different views in relation to the proposed enforcement approach for the regulations, commonly stressing the importance of a proportionate approach to enforcement which supports businesses to comply with the regulations instead of penalising non-compliance.  

Responses also commonly raised the need for enforcement bodies to be provided with adequate resourcing, training and guidance ahead of the regulations coming into force. 

Members of the public were most critical of the enforcement approach and raised concerns about the impact it could have on smaller businesses. 

A number of comments were also raised in relation to the draft impact assessments published alongside the consultation. 

In conclusion, the Welsh Government have stated that they are not proposing to make any significant amendments to the draft regulations as a result of consultation feedback. However, they will be amending draft impact assessments in line with respondents’ suggestions and will ensure comprehensive guidance is available to businesses and enforcement bodies ahead of the regulations coming into force. They will also be adjusting the planned timings for the regulations coming into force, which recognises comments from businesses and enforcement bodies.  

Subject to Senedd approval of the Regulations, their intention is now for them to come into force in Spring 2026, following a 12-month implementation window.  

The Summary of responses and the Government response can be found here  

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (APHA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) recently issued updated guidance on transporting animals into, from or through Great Britain.  

The guidance details what documents are needed and which records must be kept to meet animal welfare in transport requirements. 

The key section now included in this revision, dated 1st January 2025 covers detail about proving the purpose of your export in section 1 of your UK journey log application, if you’re transporting cattle, sheep, pigs or goats from Great Britain to a country outside of the UK, or transiting these animals through Great Britain. This became a requirement from 1st January 2025. 

The guidance can be found here 

 

Defra have announced that the UK fishing industry will have access to 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities following the conclusion of annual fishing negotiations with the EU. This is an increase of 15,000 tonnes versus 2024 and is worth up to £360 million for the industry. 

The announcement followed the UK’s trilateral agreement with the EU and Norway, which secured UK fisheries 290,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in the North Sea and surrounding waters.  

It is also on top of 280,000 tonnes, worth around £240 million, from catch limits agreed earlier in 2024 on widely distributed stocks with coastal States in the northeast Atlantic.  

In total, this brings fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2025 in the main negotiating forums to 720,000 tonnes, worth up to £890 million based on historic landing prices.   

From these three negotiating forums, the UK has gained up to 120,000 tonnes more quota from the 2025 annual negotiations than it would have as an EU member state. 

More detail, including links to the agreed records for the negotiations can be found   here.