OPRL members achieve perfect compliance scores

Asda, Aldi and The Co-operative, plus food supplier Bart Ingredients, have each been awarded 100 PerCenter status for their use of OPRL on ambient, frozen, bakery and pet food packaging.

The UK‐wide On‐Pack Recycling Label scheme, operated by OPRL Ltd, replaced previously used symbols to indicate the recyclability of packaging, and has three categories which tell consumers how likely it is that their local authority will accept specific packaging materials for recycling. The categories are: widely recycled (75 percent or more of UK local authorities collect that type of packaging); check local recycling (20-75 percent of UK local authorities collect that type of packaging); and not currently recycled (fewer than 20 percent of UK local authorities collect that type of packaging).

OPRL Ltd chair Jane Bevis said: ‘We undertake rigorous compliance audits on members to ensure the label is being used correctly as part of our quality assurance measures. So far this year we’ve checked over 6,300 products. This ensures that consumers are getting the information they need to make the right decision when disposing of packaging.

‘This is a significant achievement by each of these members. Not only have they ensured our on‐pack recycling label is on every product line within the category checked in their recent compliance audit, they’ve also used the label correctly in all cases. Congratulations to all the category managers who’ve worked so hard to achieve this.’

OPRL Ltd said a number of its members achieved 100 percent scores for the correct usage but not quite 100 percent for coverage in the chilled produce, fresh produce, health and beauty, and household products categories.

‘Our customer insight research shows almost three quarters of consumers do the right thing when given the right information via our label,’ added Bevis. ‘That’s essential if the UK is to meet its 50 percent recycling target.’