FAQs
Here we answer some common questions on recyclability, materials and sustainability issues.
Q: Are your products recyclable?
All Hortipak materials are recyclable in the UK.
Our specialist recycled polypropylene (rPP) is a mono-material (not a laminate), it contains 20% mineral additive (chalk, for colour and rigidity) and at least 30% recyclate material, which reduces our use of virgin material. The reason we state ‘at least 30%’ recyclate is because at present there is not enough supply of quality recyclate in Europe to consistently guarantee a higher content at all times. We have specific quality requirements for rigid printed sheets and cannot use lower grade recyclate. Our plastic needs to be clean and of a consistent make up so that our labels print properly and perform as expected, other wise we could risk creating more waste. Plant pots for example do not all require as high a grade recyclate.
We mark all Hortipak manufactured products with the correct recycling/material (RIC) code to aid recycling (where clients allow).
Our products are designed to be retained reused and recycled. We carefully choose materials to enable recycling within the UK infrastructure: we help to organise and identify plants in production and retail horticulture, we help to promote the sale of plants by improving gardener’s experience in selecting and caring for plants, as well as increasing brand recognition, plant attributes and other information and re-purchasing for our clients (Use images of bee-friendly, harmful if eaten etc)
Q: What plastics are recycled in the UK
Theoretically all plastics are recyclable, unfortunately however not all plastics are recycled in the UK.
All Hortipak labels are polypropylene (PP) and are recyclable in the UK. The PP Taupe pot was developed using exactly the same principles.
We do not offer PVC, PS, biodegradable plastics, bioplastics, or laminate plastics of any kind, all of which are hard to recycle in the UK. Multi-layer material, such as laminates, are harder to recycle and increase the risk of material heading to landfill.
Hortipak recommend avoiding laminates and other multi-layer materials. Single pieces of materials (mono-material) are easier to recycle.
We do not recommend PET, which is commonly used in the food and drinks industry, because it is comparatively expensive and, once printed, is not able to be recycled and reused for food and drinks grade packaging.
In the UK there are 3 tiers of Recycling. These are:
- Widely recycled – More than 75% of Local Authorities collect for recycling.
- Check Local Recycling – Between 20-75% of Local Authorities collect for recycling.
- Not yet recycled – Fewer than 20% of UK Local Authorities collect that type of packaging.
We recommend that you check your local authority’s website for which types of plastics are available for household kerbside collection, or which can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Recycle Now publish a guide to recycling which is available here: https://recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/packaging-symbols-explained
Q: What happens to Hortipak’s production waste?
All of our production waste is sent to UK recyclers where it is are cleaned and reprocessed into other plastic products. Our production waste is of high value to recyclers because it is of a relatively good quality with multiple potential life cycles left. The most common reuse for PP is in commercial and industrial markets, for example construction materials, non-food packaging such as plant pots, etc.
When we design products, we aim to achieve maximum yield from our sheets. This leads to best price and least production waste.
At the end of its life PP can be incinerated to create energy. Compared to other plastics, PP has a high calorific yield and gives off very low emissions during incineration.
Q: Which plastic is the most environmentally friendly?
All materials can cause damage to the environment if misused.
Any material that is recycled and used again is less damaging for the environment than using virgin plastic material or a mined material. This is why Hortipak recommends recycled and recyclable products.
For UK plant labels, the products need to last a long time in varied conditions throughout the supply chain and with gardeners. For this we have reviewed all the different kinds of polymers so that we use the optimum blend of cost, performance and recyclability.
Hortipak recommends the use of PEFC materials for Cardboard and Seed Packets as this means more trees are planted than are chopped down. The certified papers and boards contain fibre from managed forests and/or from post-consumer waste. PEFC can be considered in line with FSC certification.
Q: How many times can plastic be recycled?
In general, plastic can be recycled completely (100% recycled) 6 times before its properties are affected. However, if maintaining between 10% and 25% virgin content allows the plastic to be recycled indefinitely. This means that it is potentially possible to reduce plastic production by 75-90% if current plastics are recycled. These gains from using the recycling process are therefore a major incentive.
Q: What do the numbers and labels on plastic products mean?
The numbers 1-7 (often in triangles) are called Resin Identification Codes (RIC) and identify what type of polymer the plastic product is made from. These RIC codes are recognised across the world and are compulsory in Europe. Hortipak offer recycled PP (RIC 5).
The On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) delivers a message on retailer and brand packaging which are designed to help UK consumers recycle more at home. OPRL labels are explained here: https:// www.oprl.org.uk/
Q: Should we be using recycled board instead of plastic?
Cardboard in horticulture is frequently exposed to moisture and needs to have additives applied to prevent the cardboard absorbing water and falling apart. These additives are often laminate plastics which make the cardboard non-recyclable as specialist facilities are required to separate the laminated elements.
Not all paper and cardboard is recyclable. Cardboard also presents its own environmental challenges because it uses a lot of water and electricity to recycle. Recycling plastic is estimated to be around a third of the environmental cost compared to recycling cardboard and it uses much less water.
Eco3 is available for anyone that wishes to trial or use a water-resistant, plastic-free board for labelling or POS solutions. Eco3 is recyclable in the UK.
Q: What does PIR, PCW and PCR mean?
PIR: Post Industrial Waste.
PCW: Post-Consumer Waste.
PCR: Post-Consumer Resource.
Turning waste and existing resources into renewable resources are critical to the creation of a circular economy.
Q: What is the difference between Biodegradable Plastic and Bioplastic?
Bioplastics are a form of PET that have had the fossil fuel element of the polymer replaced by a plant or protein-based alternative. Bioplastics show promise in the coming decades, however currently there are some fundamental problems which need to be overcome – they are not easily recycled (the properties are easily mistaken for PET by the consumer), they are intensively farmed and take resources from food production, and they are relatively expensive.
For example PLA is a common corn starch-based bioplastic often used in 3D printing, while Plantic is a plant-based alternative which can only be used for dry goods. PLA can only be commercially recycled, most home composters can’t manage PLA, and recycling PLA at home can contaminate other salvageable plastics. As such, PLA is expected to be phased out by the end of the 2020’s.
Biodegradable plastics are made from traditional petrochemicals, which are engineered to break down more quickly. Bio-degradable plastics are plant-based alternatives that degrade naturally when subject together water and heat, or dissolve in water.
The UK does not have adequate infrastructure to deal with biodegradable plastics. Therefore there is a substantial risk that switching to these materials would further contaminate existing waste streams.
Industry-wide research published research from Kantar Worldpanel Survey in 2018 confirms that consumers are not willing to pay more for this type of plastic packaging. Instead they expect industry to design and manufacture using more environmentally responsible packaging materials.
Hortipak can readily switch to these materials when the infrastructure is in place.
Q: What about the Plastic Packaging Tax
Hortipak products contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and are not eligible for the Plastic Packaging Tax.
We do anticipate that the requirements for recycled content will increase. N.B. This is speculative and not formally announced. Recycled content availability is currently constrained by a lack of availability of high-quality post-consumer and post-industrial recyclate. The quality of the recyclate is important because poor quality can affect our production and create higher levels of waste.
Q: What is the future for plastic?
Eventually, plastics will not be made from fossil fuels, however this is a long-term expectation. Until more natural materials are developed which replace the many benefits we get from all of the different types of plastic polymers, then we will continue to use plastics in some form or other.
Short-to-medium term however, it is therefore important that we recycle and re-use existing resources and cause the least environmental impact along the way. Without plastic, there is a far greater risk of both prices and waste increasing, this is especially true in the food and drink industry.
When we design products, we aim to achieve maximum yield from our sheets. This leads to best price and least production waste. We recommend using a thinner gauge plastic where possible and can work with you to optimise shape and material usage.
Q: What about carbon footprint?
We are working to introduce a straightforward carbon measurement across the business for comparison.
We recommend that you buy locally to reduce transport footprint. We buy material in bulk to minimise the impact of distribution.
Useful references
WRAP https://wrap.org.uk/resources?type=All&field_initiatives_target_id=2278§ors=All
The UK Plastics Pact https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/plastic-packaging/initiatives/the-uk-plastics-pact
Retail Preferred Materials & Formats Guidelines e.g. Tesco – ask your account manager for an up to date copy
HTA’s Sustainability Roadmap
OPRL https:// www.oprl.org.uk/
Recycle Now publish a guide to recycling which is available here: https://recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/packaging-symbols-explained