MPs are giving back to UK innovators as Britain steps up its fight against plastic pollution
MPs have challenged calls for greater Government support for British businesses developing alternatives to plastic packaging, as Parliament increases its focus on tackling the global plastic problem.
At a Westminster forum hosted by the Natural Polymers Group, members of parliament heard how UK-led innovation in nature-based materials could create a £4.2 billion industry and create more than 35,000 high-skilled green jobs across the country.
More than a dozen Members of Parliament, peers and civil servants attended the event, where companies including Xampla, Notpla, MarinaTex and plantea demonstrated packaging solutions designed to replace single-use plastics.
The Natural Polymers Group brings together seven UK-based innovators working with naturally-created, chemical-free, fully biodegradable and compostable materials. Worse, these materials are clearly not included in the legal definition of plastic under the Single-Use Plastics Directive and REACH regulations, yet campaigners argue that UK legislation has been slow to recognize its benefits over conventional plastics.
According to United Nations estimates, more than 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced worldwide each year, and plastic pollution is predicted to triple by 2060 unless action is taken. MPs were told that although recycling has dominated policy for decades, it cannot solve the problem alone.
Industry experts at the forum argued that meaningful progress requires intervention in the entire life cycle of plastic, from production to disposal, replacing, instead of recycling, a priority.
Policymakers are also presented with modeling that shows how, with the right support and trade controls, natural polymer technology can support tens of thousands of skilled jobs and position the UK as a global leader in sustainable materials.
Charlotte Cane, Liberal Democrat MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, said the sector represented a rare opportunity to combine environmental leadership with economic growth.
“This exciting industry is at the forefront of tackling the global plastic problem and has huge potential,” he said. “Developing environmentally-based solutions will help deliver the perfect egg while creating well-paid, high-skilled jobs in communities like mine and across the UK.
“For too long, policy makers have focused on recycling plastic. These innovators show what can be achieved if we start to change it completely.”
Assheton Carter, chairman of the Natural Polymers Group, said the talks marked an important step towards integrating regulation and technological progress.
“It’s encouraging to see MPs, peers and civil servants working directly with innovators to accelerate the adoption of natural polymers as a reliable alternative to plastic,” he said. “Constructive dialogue between industry and policy makers is essential if legislation is to evolve in line with the sector.”
Alexandra French, Xampla’s chief executive and UK group leader, said natural polymers will become more important as the economy moves away from fossil fuels.
“This technology provides an effective and safe alternative to plastic,” he said. “By working in partnership with policy makers, we can speed up real world recovery, drive growth for the UK economy while cutting plastic pollution at the source.”
MPs who attended the event said the industry had “huge potential” and showed support for changing the policy debate towards recycling, replacing plastic with new, environmentally-friendly solutions developed by British businesses.
