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WRAP and OPRL form strategic partnership to tackle common goals on recycling

WRAP and OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label) have today announced a strategic partnership which sets out how the two organisations will work together towards meeting the UK’s recycling targets.

To achieve packaging recycling targets of 70% by 2030 (Circular Economy package target) and 70% of plastic packaging by 2025 (The UK Plastics Pact target), the partnership will focus on:

  • Providing consistent messaging on-pack to reduce confusion amongst consumers in the UK about what can and can’t be recycled
  • Improving the quality and quantity of household recycling in the UK
  • Improving the quality and quantity of ‘on the go’ recycling in the UK
WRAP will continue its delivery of the successful Recycle Now citizen campaign alongside broader recycling messages, while OPRL will remain responsible for on-pack recycling messages, using Recycle Now iconography under exclusive license.

Peter Maddox, Director of WRAP UK, said: “It’s been ten years since WRAP helped launch OPRL, together with the British Retail Consortium and Food & Drink Federation, and I’m delighted to mark this milestone by formalising our strategic partnership.

“Our latest research for Recycle Now shows that more than half (54%) of citizens put at least one item in the general rubbish bin that could have been recycled. Therefore helping citizens to recycle more, and more often, is crucial to achieving the targets we have committed to. It makes absolute sense that we do this in close partnership with OPRL, whose on pack messaging is recognised and understood by more than three in four citizens.”

Jane Bevis, Chair of OPRL, said: “Our continuing close relationship with WRAP is very important to us as we know consistent, evidenced messaging is essential in securing the trust and action of citizens.  OPRL’s latest research shows that advice on-pack is the single most important source of information for citizens on recycling, but that people also seek information from other trusted sources to support this. 

“Maintaining and developing further the strong links between OPRL’s on-pack messaging, and WRAP’s work through their Recycle Now campaign and local authority communications, remains essential to delivering more and better recycling of packaging.”

Publication date: 28/02/2019

WRAP-Plastics

This project has been co-funded with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union [LIFE17 ENV/ES/000438] Life programme

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Last update: 2022-01-31