From April this year a new tax will apply to plastic packaging produced in or imported into the UK that does not contain at least 30 per cent recycled plastic. This landmark moment will provide an economic incentive for businesses to use recycled material, creating greater demand and in turn stimulating increased levels of recycling and collection of plastic waste.

The potential of this new legislation to accelerate a circular economy on plastic and help tackle climate change is huge; it takes up to 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled plastic compared with using virgin materials.  However, it will only become reality if we invest in the UK's recycling and reprocessing assets.