UK plastic bottle deposit scheme vital to changing consumer behaviour

Commenting on the UK Government's plans to introduce a plastic bottle deposit scheme in England, Helen McGeough, PCI Wood Mackenzie, Senior Consultant, commented:

"It is vital that consumers understand the value of the bottle once its contents have been consumed to eradicate the perception that plastic bottles are ‘cheap’ and of little value. Educating consumers to the fact that an empty bottle can have another life in another product is no easy task, but vital to changing consumer behaviour to recycle as second nature. A bottle deposit initiative makes that value explicit but still requires consumers to engage with the scheme. In the case of the UK, the potential gains in bale quality are significant and would be very welcome by the rPET supply chain."