Sonoco Consumer Products Europe signs agreement with ACE UK
To launch UK-wide paper container recycling – Pringles tubes now included in Bring Bank scheme
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK) and Sonoco Europe have signed an agreement which provides a UK-wide recycling solution for paper containers with metal ends, through ACE UK’s Bring Bank collection scheme.
Consumers are increasingly aware of the need for more sustainable choices, which is the drive for many brands and retailers to increase the recyclability of their packaging. This two-year agreement with the food and drink carton experts from ACE UK, reflects our global initiative to commit to a continuous improvement on sustainability. We are constantly striving to enhance our capabilities in paper-based packaging with the required functional barrier properties to help extend the shelf life, whilst providing our customers in Europe with a recycling solution they can have full confidence in.”
Consumers will now be able to recycle their paper containers, including Pringles tubes, alongside food and drink cartons at 334 recycling points throughout the UK. With 26% coverage located in 100 local authorities across the UK, the Bring Bank scheme offers consumers a simple and effective way to recycle used paper container products. Bring Banks are the large bins at recycling points found in locations such as supermarkets and retail centre car parks, household recycling centres and other public locations. Consumers can find the locations of the Bring Banks using this interactive map: http://www.ace-uk.co.uk/recycling/
Helen Potter, sustainability commercial lead for Kellogg’s owned Pringles says: “We know that people want to recycle their Pringles tubes. Including a solution for Pringles in the Bring Banks scheme will allow our consumers to return them to be recycled into something new and is an important interim solution as we work towards the development of our new tube. At Kellogg, we’re committed to making all of our packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by the end of 2025. This is another important step on this journey.”
Material collected from the Bring Banks is sent to ACE UK’s Stainland recycling facility in West Yorkshire, which is run by Sonoco Alcore. Fibre from the recycled cartons is fed directly into Sonoco Alcore’s paper mill on the same site, to be turned into industrial coreboard.
Commenting on the agreement, Richard Hands, CEO of ACE UK said: “ACE UK has been successfully running the industry’s recycling programme for the last 15 years, driving significant increases in carton recycling as part of its role as the UK’s food and drink carton industry trade body. We have worked closely with local authorities and waste management companies so that today 93% of local authorities collect food and drink cartons for recycling through either Bring Banks or kerbside collection. Whilst our primary focus remains on increasing carton recycling, our Bring Bank network and the expertise and experience we have developed will deliver an immediate solution for Sonoco Europe’s paper containers with metal ends, helping to create a step change in recycling for these products.”
About ACE UK
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK provides a platform for the industry to profile and benchmark cartons as a renewable, recyclable and low-carbon packaging choice, and to drive its environmental initiatives. This includes running the industry’s carton recycling programme.
ACE UK represents Elopak, SIG Combibloc and Tetra Pak, the leading manufacturers of beverage cartons for the UK market. It is also supported by BillerudKorsnäs and Stora Enso, which produce about 98% of the paperboard used by ACE UK members in beverage cartons in Europe.
For more information contact: [email protected]; Tel: +44 1869 353804
About Sonoco Europe
At roughly 70 operations across Europe, Sonoco provides customers with a wide range of consumer and industrial packaging solutions. Consumer goods packaging solutions include cardboard cans, drums, and luxury tubes (also called rigid paper containers) with a variety of closures; plastic packaging; packaging services; and graphics management. Sonoco’s industrial division produces a portfolio of cores, tubes, and spools made from highly engineered paperboard or plastic for use with paper, textiles and specialty films. The Sonoco Thermosafe unit offers customers temperature assurance packaging solutions for the transport of temperature-sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals and other biologics. Utilizing a range of packaging materials, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet customers’ unique needs.
For more information contact: [email protected]; Tel +44 7827 910382 or [email protected]
