WPO urges stronger global rules, local action to curb packaging waste

• Upcoming Global Plastics Solutions Treaty to address plastic from design and production to disposal and waste management

By Shannine Daniel

Recycling packaging materials is key to achieving a circular economy, the World Packaging Organisation’s (WPO) Vice President Nerida Kelton said, urging governments and industries to take greater responsibility and adopt localised solutions to tackle the growing challenge of packaging waste.

“Regulations for single-use plastic and other types of plastic are really important, and we hope to see standardised regulations across the world in all our member countries,” Kelton said at the Global Packaging Forum held last week in Colombo.

“This means that 136 countries will be signing an agreement, the Global Plastics Solutions Treaty, with one set of standardised regulations,” she added.

Kelton also called on packaging producers to design more sustainable packaging, saying improved design would make it easier for producers and consumers to reduce, recycle and reprocess packaging waste.

“Even if Sri Lanka does not have advanced materials recycling facilities, we still want producers to be ready for the upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks,” she said.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach that makes producers responsible for their products throughout their lifecycle, including the post-consumer stage. The approach helps governments achieve environmental goals, such as recycling targets, while generating funding from producers to support the collection, sorting and recycling of waste.

Kelton said her home country, Australia, has adopted a traffic light system for packaging production to help producers prepare for EPR frameworks. Those currently producing packaging flagged as red or amber would be able to redesign their products to achieve a green rating.

She also underscored the need for the industry to educate consumers about recycling and reprocessing by using clear and accurate labels on packaging.

As of 1 November, free shopping bags would no longer be available for carrying goods with the Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) making it mandatory for vendors to indicate the price of shopping bags on customer bills.

The ban comes as Sri Lanka steps up efforts to cut plastic waste and manage overall waste by 2030.