Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and the WWF have been listed among the first names unveiled as advisory board members within Compostable Coalition UK, an industry group dedicated to fast-tracking solutions for industrial composting collections across the country.

The names join a new arm of the Coalition’s research – its Closing the Loop for Compostable Packaging project – that examines the practicality of effectively collecting, sorting, and recycling compostable packaging via the UK’s existing collection and treatment streams.

The project – funded by UK Research and Innovation’s flagship £60 million Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge – addresses the potential role in mainstreaming compostable packaging as a replacement for some key hard-to-recycle plastics.

Currently, 1.2 million tonnes – of 50% – of the UK’s plastic packaging goes unrecycled. The Coalition’s aim is to see a wide-spread switch to compostable packaging that can be effectively treated and organically recycled post consumption.

Key application areas where currently little to no recycling is feasible (including tea bags, coffee pods, fresh produce packaging, and foodservice packaging) will be evaluated and assessed within the project in alignment with WRAP and The Plastics Pact vision of the most suitable applications for compostable packaging.

Advisory Board Members – who are also members of the UK’s Plastics Pact – will ensure the research project remains objective, empirically robust, and supports the priorities and interests of key stakeholders – not least in supporting the attainment of the UK’s Plastics Pact goals for compostability and circularity.

The Advisory Board Members are:

James Bull, head of packaging and food waste strategies, Tesco

Margaret Bates, executive director, OPRL

Paula Chin, senior policy advisor (consumption), WWF

Sam Clough, senior packaging technologist, Marks & Spencer

Laura Fernandez, senior packaging and sustainability manager, Ocado Retail

Compostable Coalition UK’s Tomos Davies, said: “We are delighted to have assembled such a formidable group of packaging and wider industry experts to join our research project. Their insights and expertise will prove invaluable in finessing the research project as well as ensuring the objectivity and robustness of our research trials.

“With the Advisory Board’s expert input, we are confident the project’s findings can successfully signpost industry and Governments towards the necessary policy and behavioural interventions.”

The WWF’s Paula Chin, added: “Finding solutions to tackle the plastic pollution crisis remains a pressing issue and considering what role compostable packaging can play is critical. Exploring the potential of its contribution to a circular economy is an opportunity which WWF is supportive of, and I look forward to reviewing the emerging findings regarding the environmental benefits and the potential wider positive impacts on soil health.”