Contract to Support the On-Pack Recycling Label Scheme Won by UK Sustainability Consultancy

Ricardo-AEA (UK) has been awarded a two year monitoring contract to support the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme, a UK initiative to encourage consistent recycling messaging on consumer packaging.

The OPRL scheme is operated by OPRL Ltd, a not-for-profit company. Its highly recognisable label provides information on the recyclability of an item’s packaging components, enabling consumers to understand how to dispose of the materials.

Ricardo-AEA will be monitoring how the label is used in practice, ensuring that retailers and manufacturers are providing consumers with the correct information. The work will involve monitoring how widely the label is being used across product lines by scheme members and checking that the right image is being applied to products. OPRL participants include all of the UK’s major supermarkets, high street and online retailers, many leading consumer brands and numerous small and bespoke producers.

“The On-Pack Recycling Label is a great way of providing consumers with the information they need to recycle more items,” said Tim Lineham, Ricardo-AEA programme manager. “By carrying this label, OPRL participants are helping their customers reduce waste and support the circular economy. Over the next two years, Ricardo-AEA will provide OPRL Ltd with useful insights into the volume of products carrying the label and will also help retailers and manufacturers to provide accurate information to customers, improving environmental impact through reducing unnecessary waste.”

Jane Bevis, Chair of OPRL Ltd added: “Consumers tell us that they need clear information on whether packaging can be recycled if they are to recycle more. Our label provides clear and simple messaging to help consumers, and 6 in 10 of them already recognise the label. It’s really important to us that the label is used properly to support more consumer recycling, enabling our members to use more recycled material in their packaging.

“We are looking forward to working with Ricardo-AEA over the next two years: they have an excellent track record of helping retailers cut waste and have supported other sustainability labelling initiatives such as the EU Water and Energy label schemes”.