Over the last couple of decades, sustainability and recycling have become more and more commonplace ideas among the public, but even more so in our industry of packaging, due to our heavy collective involvement in plastic production. At Meridian Custom Packaging, we genuinely believe that the future of packaging goes beyond just cutting back on materials, and instead, it’s all about recycling and finding new packaging solutions that don’t make people feel like they are missing out.
You may not realise it yet, but plastic is a varied group of materials, each with its own unique environmental impact and recycling potential. For businesses aiming to move on from single-use items, there are two main options to choose between. Either opt for materials that are created from recycled content or that have been designed with future recyclability in mind, so they can be easily reused down the line.
In April 2022, the UK government introduced the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) to encourage the use of recycled plastic and make ‘new’ plastic less of the default option in packaging.
The key thing to note with this tax is where the threshold sits. If you use more than 30%recycled content, you do not have to pay the tax, however, if you fall under that percentage, then the full rate applies to all the plastic in the packaging. From April 2026, it costs £228.82 per tonne, however, this tends to rise every financial year in line with inflation.
This means that by switching to RPET solutions, you will be saving money every year, all through choosing more sustainable packaging. However, some types of products don’t have to pay the tax, no matter how much recycled material they’re made from. These include:
- Packaging that is used to hold any human medicinal products when they’re first given to people.
- Items made to last many years and can be reused, like DVD cases, toolboxes, or boxes for board games.
- Packaging that is an essential part of the product itself, like tea bags, printer ink cartridges, or lighters.
We know that no two products are the same, so no two solutions will be the same either. Whether you're after biodegradable packaging or high-clarity recycled plastic, there is a range of materials that can both look great and keep things protected.
Flexible RPET: RPET is a clear, protective packaging that, in its thinner, flexible state, can be used for certain types of bags and wraps, without the environmental impact of virgin plastic. It is an ideal choice for packaging soft products, like textiles, and dry goods.
Solid RPET: Rigid RPET is the best substitute for regular hard PVC. It gives you that same clear look and 'snap' as regular plastics, but it’s made entirely from recycled waste, making it best for food goods that have wet elements or that can melt, or products that need more robust protection in transport.
Recyclable Carton Board: At Meridian, we also specialise in carton board packaging. Most of what we make (over 80%) is made from paper and fibre materials, and we use FSC® certificated (C148074) boards to make sure each box helps plant new trees around the world.
Custom Solutions: None of the above seem like they fit what you need? There are different plastic blends such as LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene), HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), Polypropylene (PP) and PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) that are less eco-friendly, but can still be an option in the right circumstances.
One of the biggest milestones in our sustainability journey took place in 2024, as Meridian proudly stopped buying PVC materials. While PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) has been one of the most popular packaging materials for years, it’s still notoriously tricky to recycle and often involves tough chemical solvents during manufacturing. As part of our Environmental Promise, we’ve now switched all our new transparent packaging to RPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate).
So, why opt for RPET?
Unlike PVC and unrecycled PET, RPET is made from post-consumer waste, like water bottles and other kinds of recyclable plastics, meaning that this old packaging isn’t ending up in landfill or polluting nature and is given a new, productive purpose. Producing RPET also uses much less energy than making virgin plastic, helping to reduce carbon emissions, as well as being accepted in most UK recycling bins, making it simpler for customers to recycle responsibly.
It’s not just plastic waste we are looking to reduce. We've put solar panels all around our facility, which helps us cut down over 20,000 kg of CO2 emissions each year, that's like planting more than 1,000 trees!
Speak to the Meridian Custom Packaging team today to discuss your next project.
https://www.meridiancustompackaging.co.uk/contact
Or click the link below to explore our sustainability guidelines and see what makes us different from the rest of the packaging industry -
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