Industry leaders align on plastic reform and circular design goals

Manufacturing and packaging executives gathered at the RECOUP Conference 2025 to assess how the UK can accelerate its move towards plastic circularity. Speakers from Barclays, Nestlé, Tesco, and DOW agreed that decisive action and pragmatic innovation are essential to reducing waste and cutting emissions under new legislative reforms.

The event opened with a call to use existing technologies rather than wait for future breakthroughs. Delegates stressed the need to address why so much UK plastic is still exported, arguing that finance must be viewed as an enabler of circular progress, not a barrier.

Global experts in the second session examined lessons from international schemes such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Systems. They pointed to alignment of infrastructure and incentives as key to building scalable, trustworthy systems.

The closing panel tackled public misconceptions about plastics, warning that misinformation hinders effective policy and investment. Despite challenges, public commitment to recycling remains strong, with the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme expected to lift recycling rates to 70 per cent.

Three themes dominated the discussions: collaboration across sectors, accelerated investment in recycling infrastructure, and restoring public confidence in the material’s value. The consensus was clear—plastic isn’t the enemy; poor systems are.

Read the full breakdown of RECOUP 2025’s discussions and strategic outcomes in the complete article.