Months after the UK's ban on single-use EPS/XPS foodservice packaging, Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) believes there’s still work to do in educating foodservice businesses about the differences between now-banned EPS/XPS packaging and the recyclable alternatives that are legal for use.
Despite the ban, implemented in October 2023, reports have revealed that some customers are still unknowingly being sold packaging that is no longer legal. kp, an innovator in thermoformed trays and rigid films for form, fill and seal applications, as well as flexible barrier and stretch films, calls on the food and packaging industries to improve awareness in this area, to support the fight against linear packaging waste streams.
Sally Molyneux, Regional Sales Director UK & Ireland at kp, emphasised the ongoing need for foodservice industry awareness, stating, "While the ban has been rolled out, the market has seen reports of some wholesalers continuing to sell outlawed EPS/XPS packaging. In many cases, the food business using these may not even be aware of the issue, and the bottom line is that both they and the consumers they sell to are being misled. That’s why we are pressing DEFRA to find out what more could be done to prevent this. Our mission is to bust packaging myths and to protect wholesalers, foodservice businesses and consumers alike.”
Sally offers the following guidance for distinguishing between banned EPS/XPS packaging and legal EPP-based packaging:
- kp Infinity® packs are labelled with recycling code 5, shown on each individual unit inside the recognised recycling symbol. This confirms its EPP structure, and that it’s widely recyclable in standard PP waste streams, and fully compliant as a result.
- By contrast, EPS or XPS packaging is labelled with recycling code 6. This indicates a packaging material that is no longer legal in the UK as a foodservice packaging material.
Vincent Gass, Vice President of Marketing & Innovation at kp, echoed the sentiment, stating: "Now that the UK’s EPS/XPS ban is in effect, the onus is on foodservice businesses to adopt suitable alternatives. There is significant risk of bodies such as Trading Standards clamping down on companies that are still stocking and selling this now-banned packaging material, whether they’re aware of the ban or not. With high-performance alternatives like kp Infinity® widely available, that’s a totally avoidable financial risk.
“With kp Infinity® we offer a solution that not only meets regulatory requirements but also delivers superior performance to other EPS alternatives. When you partner with kp, you’re getting an ally that puts integrity first, won’t take shortcuts and won’t short-change the foodservice business or the consumer. We urge vigilance in removing EPS/XPS packaging from the supply chain, and together we can build a marketplace built on trust, clarity and circularity."
kp remains committed to championing sustainability-focused design in the food packaging industry, designing packaging to fit into a closed loop system, and advocating for informed consumer choices and stringent regulatory enforcement.
To learn more about its activities, please visit www.kpfilms.com