Month: September 2023

From October 1, 2023, England will crack down on single-use plastics, including polystyrene cups, cutlery, and more, as part of its commitment to reduce plastic pollution and protect the environment, so businesses, get ready to make the switch

The upcoming ban includes polystyrene cups and food containers, single-use plastic cutlery and single-use balloon sticks. There will also be a restriction to the supply of single-use plastic trays and bowls to members of the public, although businesses can continue to supply these items if they are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items.

How to prepare for the single-use plastics ban:

The government response to the consultation on these bans, published in January, set out that these restrictions would be introduced from October 2023 instead of April 2023, giving businesses more time to prepare.

Businesses will need to use up existing stock and find alternative substitutes or reuse solutions by 1 October 2023.

This ban compliments the existing restrictions on other single-use plastic items including plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers
and our carrier bag charge.

Why we are banning single-use plastics

The government is committed to tackling plastic pollution and littering and to reduce avoidable waste. Single-use plastics have damaging environmental impacts as they are commonly littered and are difficult to recycle. These impacts need to be managed so that we can protect our environment.

Damaging environmental impacts:
Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and inflicts serious damage to the environment. It is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions, from the production and manufacture of the plastic itself to the way it is disposed of.

Unnecessary littering: England uses around 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10% are recycled.

We know that people and businesses want to do the right thing for the environment and support our ban on single-use plastics. However, if the rules are not complied with, a range of enforcement options have been provided, including both civil and criminal sanctions. The bans will be enforced by Trading Standards.

Further information

• Access single-use plastics ban Q&As
• Download the single-use plastics ban poster to see what items are included and what items are exempt
• View the single-use plastics ban toolkit for useful communication products
• Guidance: New restrictions on polystyrene cups and food containers, single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, trays, bowls and plates
• Guidance: Existing single-use plastic item restrictions
• Guidance: Carrier bag charge

Further questions

• If you have any questions about what the new rules mean for your business, please contact Plastics.Consultation@defra.gov.uk.
• You can also visit the Defra stand at the Restaurants and Takeaway packaging EXPO on 10-11 October, where you can speak directly with the Department’s SUP experts.

Sign up to the UK Plastics Pact

Members of the UK Plastics Pact have achieved an 84% reduction in unnecessary single-use plastics since 2018 by successfully driving the reuse of problematic plastic items. To find out more and to be part of this success please sign up here.

Thank you to businesses and trade associations who have already offered to share information to help businesses comply with the ban by generating further public awareness and understanding of the need to minimize single-use plastic waste.

From Stress to Success: The 4-Day Workweek Revolution as reported in SME today, almost every UK company that took part in the world’s biggest four-day week trial, has decided to continue with the reduced working hours model, 92% of the 61 participating companies confirming the policy is a permanent change

While this shift towards a better work-life balance is promising, Adrian Lewis, Co-founder and Global Lead at Activ People HR advises caution to firms looking to follow suit and ensure they have the right systems in place to make this a success.

Adrian says, “The four-day working week is something many employees would value as it can help them achieve a better work-life balance. This in turn can make them more motivated and enthusiastic, which boosts productivity. It’s easy to see why firms might want to implement this model.

“However, we would urge caution and for employers to think carefully about offering a four-day week, as if not managed correctly, it can be detrimental to the business and to employees, as they try to squeeze their workload into a shorter working week.”

The UK trial showed the main benefits of shorter working hours were around wellbeing with 39% of employees saying they were less stressed, and 71% having reduced levels of burnout at the end of the trial. Also, levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues decreased, while mental and physical health both improved.

Results showed increased productivity and engagement too, with organisations reporting revenue increases of 35% on average, compared with other periods, and the number of staff leaving decreasing significantly, dropping by 57% over the trial period.

However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for all involved as it’s not a model that suits all businesses. Disadvantages reported included staff being exhausted by the time they reached their day off, and employers struggling to get staff cover or facing extra staff costs if the business is customer-facing such as a restaurant or shop.

Adrian adds: “For firms considering implementing a four-day week, forward planning and adopting the right HR systems can ensure a smooth transition. Going digital and using tools like absence management software can offer an accurate way to keep track of staff, so they know who is off when, and allow managers to plan ahead.

“Digital tools give instance visibility over the workforce as well as accurate data on other absences such as sick days or holidays. This can help them spot any changes to behaviour which may indicate that the four-day week isn’t working for some.

“For example, if someone ends up stressed by trying to cram work into fewer days – this could lead to them taking more time off sick if they can’t cope. Identifying such patterns helps companies address any concerns promptly and make adjustments to maintain a healthy work environment.

“Introducing a four-day working week can bring substantial benefits when managed correctly and proactively monitored for changes in behaviour. Using digital tools can support the decision to offer this whilst at the same time staying attentive to any negative impacts.”

From Stress to Success: The 4-Day Workweek Revolution