Dr Jen Vanderhoven
CEO, BBIA
Packaging underpins modern life, protecting goods, extending shelf life and enabling global trade. Yet it remains dependent on fossil-based materials — an increasingly unsustainable model.
The issue is structural. Fossil-based packaging follows a linear path: finite resources are extracted, used briefly, then discarded. In the UK, around 12 million tonnes of packaging waste are generated annually, with just over half of plastic packaging recycled.
Much of the remainder is incinerated, releasing an estimated 3 million tonnes of fossil CO₂ yearly. Materials are designed for performance rather than recovery, and waste systems struggle to keep pace.
Packaging demand also continues to rise, driven by e-commerce and convenience. This creates a system built on finite resources, increasing exposure to supply risks, price volatility and long-term insecurity.
The necessity of sustainable packaging
Reducing fossil dependence is also a resilience imperative. Fossil-reliant packaging systems are vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and market fluctuations. Diversifying toward renewable, bio-based feedstocks offers a more flexible and distributed model.
Packaging is often used for minutes but persists for decades. Low recycling rates, especially for plastics, mean valuable materials are lost, while incineration returns embedded carbon to the atmosphere. Bio-based alternatives, derived from plants, waste streams and algae, offer potential to reduce emissions and expand end-of-life options.
However, the transition isn’t straightforward. Cost is a major barrier, with bio-based packaging up to 2.5 times more expensive due to limited feedstocks and immature supply chains. Infrastructure also lags: existing systems are optimised for conventional plastics, making it difficult for new materials to scale.
Bio-based packaging could grow
into a £4.2 billion UK industry.
Sustainable packaging innovations and benefits
Significant UK investment has driven advances in plant-based coatings, compostable polymers and natural barriers. These solutions show promise but require supportive systems to reach the market.
The prize is substantial. Bio-based packaging could grow into a £4.2 billion UK industry, supporting 35,000 skilled jobs and strengthening domestic supply chains, while positioning the UK as a leader in advanced materials.
This transition will require scaling production, adapting waste infrastructure, aligning design with disposal and sustaining innovation. The challenge isn’t a lack of alternatives, but the pace at which systems can evolve.
