Waste options for our compostable packaging Lucy Frankel, Vegware @vegware Lucy.Frankel@vegware.co.uk

Composting = a form of recycling In the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, organics recycling is equivalent to mechanical recycling.

Vegware in UK organics facilities 27 UK organics facilities accept Vegware 22 in-vessel composting 3 open windrow composting 2 equipped wet-AD Products accepted at these facilities 23 - all Vegware products 3 - drinks waste only 1 - fibre-based Vegware only (PLA linings fine, but not 100% PLA) Trials Successful trials at 17 facilities 5 more trials underway (3 IVC, 2 OAW) REA ORG monitored largest trial 9 of these 27 process Vegware on a regular basis Driven by client demand in certain regions Exciting – shows potential for growth Challenges: AD often cheaper gate fees due to subsidies; policy hostile to IVC - Contamination must be minimal, so engagement is vital - Gap is the collection infrastructure…

= 38% of UK (up from 2% in 2012, and 25% in January) Regular trade collections - update 17th June ‘19 CLOSE THE LOOP (Vegware's own collections) Bristol, Worcester, Stroud, Cheltenham, Gloucester & region Edinburgh, Glasgow, Central Belt, Borders, Dundee & parts of Fife, Oban, Fort William, Stranraer FOR LARGE SITES - skips New  Ipswich, Norwich & Colchester Cambridge & area, Ely, parts of Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, Bury St Edmunds COMPOSTING REGIONS Basingstoke, Guildford, Reading, Woking, Bracknell, Swindon, Oxford, Salisbury, Winchester Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Telford, Shropshire, Staffs & parts of Powys Nottingham & Derby region  Hull & surroundings Highlands of Scotland, Aberdeenshire  New  Birmingham New  Most of Northern Ireland New  Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wetherby, Knaresborough & area Soon  Home counties – St Albans, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Watford, Dacorum DRINKS WASTE ONLY  Isle of Man Somerset More in development FIBRE-BASED PRODUCTS ONLY  London – bagged collection Dedicated routes Other regions always developing More London options in development New post-back service with First Mile - all UK. Ideal for small events / cafes Trade collections for used Vegware now in 1,179 UK postcode districts = 38% of UK (up from 2% in 2012, and 25% in January)

Compostable polymers are vital – fibre alone isn’t a major solution Polymer only (35%) PLA clear cups, deli containers CPLA cutlery, hot cup lids Bin liners - MaterBi PLA & PBAT carrier bags, food prep gloves Ecovio or PLA straws Fibre only (22%) Bagasse plates, bowls, takeaway boxes Paper bags, straws, sheets Wooden cutlery Card sleeves, trays Pulp trays Palm leaf plates Napkins & roll NatureFlex  Polymer-only products Mixed: ~90% fibre + ~10% polymer window or lining Fibre-only products Plastics tax… Will UK penalize compostable polymers for not being RPET? Mixed (43%) Paper cups, soup containers Sandwich wedges, salad boxes

“If you're gonna do it, do it right”

Costs of a compostable SME Current costs Compostability lab testing ~ €14,000 per family of products or per material Compostability certification (OK Compost, Din Certco, BPI, CMA etc) ~ £20,000+ per year Food safety certification ~ £5,000+ per year New product development - £180,000 spent on tooling this year PRNs ~ £14,000 (but none of that goes to organics recycling facilities ) 3 full time Recycling Advisors & staff time to create bespoke bin signage etc BBIA & REA ORG memberships  Future? UK plastics tax ? Penalized for not being trad plastic? ? If 30% bio-based = exemption / lower rate, do we need to invest in certification proving bio-based content? What will that cost, and will we get support? PRN / EPR reform 10-18-fold increase expected – but will the organics recycling sector benefit? Life Cycle Analyses? We have 300+ products, a global supply chain, and sell to 70 countries. LCAs are complex & expensive. If these are to be required, will there be a standardised system & financial support?

Thank you Lucy.Frankel@vegware.co.uk vegware.com/composting – detailed FAQs Environmental@Vegware.co.uk – advice on waste options