New RECOUP Report! Incorrect & Fraudulent Claims of Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging – Challenges and Solutions

A new RECOUP report, Incorrect & Fraudulent Claims of Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging – Challenges and Solutions, highlights concerns about incorrect and fraudulent recycled content claims in plastic packaging, calling for stronger enforcement and verification ahead of its official launch at the RWM Expo in September.

This follows on from the RECOUP positions document on the Plastic Packaging Tax, which are outlined in the ‘Considerations & Recommendations for a more Effective Plastic Packaging Tax’ document from October 2024 and can be downloaded here.

Whilst RECOUP is supportive of the tax and its core objective of increasing demand for recycled plastic, fraudulent claims of recycled content and a lack of a solid verification system is heavily damaging the competitiveness of the UK’s plastic packaging manufacturing and recycling industry.

Despite this, there are very limited reports of incorrect or fraudulent claims – with the reasons outlined in the report. This report is only available to RECOUP members. We intend to use the time up until the launch of the report at the Resource and Waste Management Expo (RWM) in September to find more evidence of these claims and finalise the report.

If you have feedback, would like to discuss the report or could help in providing evidence of fraudulent claims, please contact Steve Morgan (steve.morgan@recoup.org).