Despite the pranks and mischievousness typically observed on April Fool’s Day, this year — April 1, 2022 — the United Kingdom was “all business” as its new Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) took effect. An explanatory memorandum issued by the UK government explained that the tax is designed to “provide a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging, which will create greater demand for this material. In turn, this will stimulate increased levels of recycling and collection of plastic waste, diverting it away from landfill or incineration.”
Citing statistics such as recycled plastic has a carbon footprint that can be up to four times lower than virgin plastic as the inspiration for the legislation, the UK government has high hopes that the PPT will encourage the use of more sustainable plastic packaging, increase the use of recycled plastic and ultimately reduce plastic waste.
Distilled down to its simplest terms, the new tax is on plastic packaging manufactured or imported into the UK that does not contain a minimum 30% recycled content, including VCI rust prevention packaging used to protect finished metal parts and machinery.
Armor Protective Packaging® has always taken great pride in knowing that our clean, safe and easy VCI rust prevention products are helping to reduce environmental impact, rather than adding to it. We have been “green” and committed to providing sustainable corrosion solutions long before it was “fashionable” and “trending” because we knew it was good for people, good for the environment and just a good way to do business. ARMOR VCI products eliminate the need for oil and grease rust preventatives that are costly to the environment and to our customers’ bottom line. And, ARMOR upholds the standard that the ARMOR POLY® VCI Films that contain a minimum of 30% recycled content are still 100% recyclable.
ARMOR has continued to monitor and stay abreast of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax regulations. Provided below is a summary of PPT key points and specifics as to how the ARMOR POLY line of VCI products conform.
UK Plastic Packaging Tax – The Facts, Features and How ARMOR Fits
- Effective April 1, 2022
- A tax will be charged at a rate of £200 per ton for plastic packaging produced in, or imported into, the UK that does not contain a minimum 30% recycled content.
- Imported plastic packaging is liable to the tax, whether the plastic packaging is filled or unfilled.
- The tax applies to packaging used to protect finished goods, such as an engine wrapped in ARMOR POLY.
- In 2020, ARMOR successfully met its goal to ensure that all feasible VCI poly films contain a minimum 30% recycled content. The recycled content used in ARMOR POLY VCI Film is comprised of post-industrial recycled materials.
- All ARMOR POLY mono-extruded VCI films, as well as the ARMOR DEFENDER™ co-extruded VCI film, contain a minimum of 30% recycled content (excluding zip bags).
- ARMOR is unable to use recycled content in the production of films with heat shrink, UV inhibitors and HD. While ARMOR SEA™ Film is co-extruded, which allows for a 25% source reduction (like our DEFENDER film), it contains UV inhibitors that prevent the use of recycled content. Therefore, ARMOR POLY Stretch Film and SEA Film would be taxed under the PPT regulations.
- All ARMOR POLY VCI Films containing a minimum of 30% recycled content are clearly labeled.
Visit the ARMOR website for additional information on ARMOR’s commitment to sustainable corrosion solutions or contact your ARMOR sales representative.
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