Beverage producers pressure UK Prime Minister to implement deposit return scheme for drinks packaging

09 Oct 2023 --- A coalition of beverage industry stakeholders have collectively penned a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging the government to press ahead with the implementation of a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks packaging.

Notable signatories include soft drink giants Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Suntory, environmental organizations like WWF, Surfers Against Sewage, and the Marine Conservation Society, as well as the British Soft Drinks Association and the Federation of Independent Retailers. 

The move is aimed at curbing litter from drinks containers and boosting recycling rates.

The coalition’s appeal comes in response to recent discussions on the costs of DRS and calls to abandon the initiative. The stakeholders support the government’s commitment to DRS, emphasizing the need for consistency across the UK in terms of deposit levels, timeline, scope and fees.

“If drinks manufacturers and retailers are to reach net zero, they will need to reduce the carbon footprint of their packaging — the most effective way of achieving this is through the introduction of a deposit return scheme,” reads the open letter. 

“Furthermore, many drinks manufacturers and retailers have made similar commitments and signed external pledges that are all conditional on deposit return being implemented and interoperable across the country. DRS is, therefore, a policy that should carry universal support.”

The written response was organized by Keep Britain Tidy, an independent environmental charity. 

Keep Britain Tidy’s research highlights that more than 70% of litter is attributed to drinks consumption.Keep Britain Tidy’s research highlights that more than 70% of litter is attributed to drinks consumption, resulting in approximately 20 million drink containers being littered, incinerated or sent to landfills daily, amounting to over seven billion annually.

Boosting recycling rates
The UK government has set a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, but achieving this goal necessitates a significant increase in recycling rates, asserts the coalition. 

The group argues that the most effective way to accomplish net zero is by introducing a DRS that would provide the necessary infrastructure to boost recycling rates without any significant additional burden on taxpayers.

“Only a deposit return scheme can clear up the mess left by littered drinks containers and provide the high-quality recycling needed to help the UK move toward a long overdue circular economy for drinks packaging. That’s why a DRS is a policy that carries almost universal support from manufacturers to consumers and everyone in-between,” comments Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton.

“We’ve joined forces with a network of leading organizations from different sectors to reiterate our support for the Government’s commitment and ambition to introduce a comprehensive DRS, using our strong joint voice.”

The UK government estimates that a DRS will reduce littering of drinks containers by 85%, removing them from the environment and facilitating their return to producers for recycling into new products.

Public support for a DRS scheme is evident, with polling conducted by YouGov on behalf of Keep Britain Tidy showing that two-thirds of the public favor its introduction and 36% support a deposit of up to 20p per container.

Edited by Radhika Sikaria