The Truth About LDPE Recycling - Is It Potential Greenwashing?

All brands are looking to tell people how sustainable they are, but in some instances this can be misleading. You see supermarkets putting 100% recyclable on plastic bags, ecommerce retailers using 100% recyclable poly mailers – but does saying LDPE is 100% recyclable and using these eco markers really mean it will be, or is it false virtue signalling and greenwashing? 

One particular choice that has gained popularity as an ecommerce packaging solution is the use of poly mailers, often marketed as recyclable and eco-friendly. However, the reality of LDPE recycling in the UK tells a different story. Should we be allowed to say that things are 100% recyclable in full knowledge that the capacity and infrastructure aren’t available? 

LDPE Markers

Plastic is an extremely versatile material that has transformed industries including healthcare, food security, and ecommerce packaging. In the UK, 2.4 million tons of plastic were sold in 2017, of which packaging accounts for 1.3 million tons. Most household plastic packaging will have a label that says whether or not it can be recycled and what type of plastic it is.

Among the various plastic types, LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) is a common contender. The LDPE recycling symbol, the number 4 encased in the recycling symbol, are intended to provide clarity to consumers. However, these seemingly innocuous symbols have come under scrutiny. Questions have arisen about whether LDPE markers, and similar recycling labels, sometimes offer false hope. Are they truly indicative of the recyclability of the plastic or do they merely scratch the surface of a much more complex issue?

The LDPE Recycling Conundrum

While LDPE markers aim to provide consumers with information about recycling, the true scope of the challenge becomes apparent when we consider the vast quantities of LDPE packaging used annually. By 2060, the use of plastic packaging, in particular LDPE, is expected to triple.

In recent years, the UK has witnessed a remarkable 40% growth in the ecommerce market over the last 10 years, driving an upsurge in packaging demands. Currently, plastic packaging in the UK accounts for nearly 70% of our plastic waste. Yet, amidst this boom in packaging usage, municipal recycling rates in England have remained stagnant, growing by just 0.3% between 2020-2021 and remaining at 44-46% for the past 11 years.

What many people are not aware of is the limited recycling capacity in the UK for LDPE soft plastics. A significant disparity exists between the demand for recycling soft plastics and the actual recycling capacity in the UK. Startlingly, the UK's recycling infrastructure falls far short of what's required to efficiently recycle LDPE, with less than one-third of the necessary capacity currently in place. Even more concerning is the glaring lack of recycling capacity tailored to the needs of the average consumer, especially when it comes to LDPE packaging.

UK Recycling Infrastructure

Unfortunately, recycling plastic is becoming increasingly complex for households. The responsibility for UK household waste collections lies with local authorities, which differ from area to area. There is no national co-ordination and organisation with each local authority only collecting certain types of plastics, mostly plastic bottles, rigid packaging plastics, and very few collecting LDPE soft plastics. It can be argued that one of the most important steps in the recycling process of plastic waste is the collection of recyclables. As of 2017, just 18% of local authorities in England provide kerbside collection for LDPE plastic film.

The current recycling infrastructure in the UK cannot cater for the capacity needed to recycle the amount of LDPE waste that is discarded each year. In fact, some of the plastic recycling generated by the UK is shipped overseas to be recycled as the domestic infrastructure we currently have isn’t capable of managing the capacity.

Whilst LDPE packaging is a popular choice with many retailers, the UK faces a major issue when it comes to recycling LDPE, especially soft plastics. Despite well-intentioned efforts, the public awareness has not translated into action, and recycling rates are disappointingly low.

The lack of infrastructure available for LDPE recycling means that over 95% of soft plastics generated by e-commerce businesses for consumers end up in landfills or the open environment. This figure of less than 5% dedicated to municipal film recycling is in spite of households accounting for around half of the UK’s 665,000 tonnes of annual plastic packaging waste.

To put this into perspective, 95% of all paper packaging is able to be recycled, and the current recycling rate in the UK for paper sits at an impressive 71%. As one of the most widely recycled materials in the UK, the recycling infrastructure for paper is well-established and accessible in comparison. With curbside collection widespread and common practice, paper recycling is an integral part of the waste management infrastructure and a now reliably adopted consumer behaviour.

A Call to Action 

So what’s the solution? Some are out of our immediate control; these being to invest in recycling infrastructure and centralising the system. But where we can make a change is to drive reductions in plastic usage and increase the use of more sustainable packaging choices. The UK’s limited LDPE recycling infrastructure and the environmental advantages of paper and cardboard packaging, such as paper mailing bags or cardboard boxes, makes a compelling case for businesses that value sustainability and can consider that change. Choosing paper over LDPE is not just a sound environmental choice, but a powerful way to contribute to a more sustainable future.

If this topic has piqued your interest and you’d like to delve deeper into sustainable packaging solutions, we’re here to help. At Priory Direct, we’re experts in sustainable packaging, and we’re always ready to provide guidance and consultation to businesses looking to make their despatches eco-friendlier. Don’t hesitate to reach out; together, we can make a positive change in the world of packaging.