Plastic recycling news from the world of waste in October

It is time for the next instalment of our news round-up blog series, bringing you the latest interesting news from the plastic waste and recycling industry.

From eco-friendly SIM cards to 100% recyclable Coca-Cola bottles, here’s the latest industry insight from October…

Vodafone SIMs to be made of recyclable plastic from 2022

From April 2022 onwards, Vodafone will introduce its new Eco SIMs to the UK market, in a bid to reduce its impact on the environment. By making SIM card holders smaller, Vodafone has decreased the amount of plastic it uses by 340 tonnes a year — equivalent to 1,760 tonnes of CO2e.

Coca-Cola unveils prototype bottle made from 100% plant-based sources

Earlier last month, The Coca-Cola company revealed its first prototype bottle made from 100% recycled plastic. The new prototype – excluding its label and lid – exclusively uses materials from renewable, plant-based sources, removing all petroleum-based content from the bottle. According to the firm, it represents a significant technological step forward in the reduction of virgin oil-based PET across commercially produced bottles.

‘It comes from bacteria, and goes back to bacteria’: the future of plastic alternatives

Reimagining a food system that isn’t built on the foundation of single-use plastic, a California-based company has developed an edible, tasteless, and invisible plant-based spray for fruits and vegetables that works as a barrier to keep oxygen out and moisture in. The result? An increased shelf life for fresh produce, without the need for single-use plastic.

PM claims that plastic recycling ‘doesn’t work’

Last month, the prime minster, Boris Johnson ruffled a few feathers across the industry when he said plastics recycling “doesn’t work” and that it would be a “huge mistake” to think it’s the answer to plastic pollution.

Simon Ellin, chief executive of the Recycling Association, reacted by saying that the PM had “lost the plastic plot” and that he was sending out a “negative message”.

From our perspective, of course, recycling alone is not the answer. There should be a reduction of single-use plastic, and more focus given to the packaging design phase – ensuring it is circular in its nature – but to say the recycling of this important material “doesn’t work” is completely wrong. Not to mention the fact that plastic recycling is a vital pillar of the PM’s own Resources & Waste Strategy.

Keep up to date with our favourite news stories next month, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, for more recycling updates and news from Indigo Environmental.