Feature

Sustainable packaging strides towards a greener future

Andy Turner, Operations Director at SEW-EURODRIVE UK, explores how manufacturers can lead the way in sustainability, by simply switching up their packaging.

01/10/2025 11:47:08

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As governments across the world strive to hit net zero targets, the prevention of waste and the promotion of recycling will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions.

Globally, 142 million
tonnes of plastic packaging are produced every year, with just 10 percent being ‘effectively recycled’, meaning it’s successfully processed into something of value, such as a plastic bottle being retransformed into a new
plastic bottle. The remaining waste generates 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon emissions annually, accounting for around three percent of global emissions.

In 2024, the UK generated 12,727 tonnes of packaging waste, with around
two thirds of this being recycled. These numbers differ significantly by material, however: paper and cardboard waste achieves a 74 percent recycling rate, while plastic achieves just 51 percent.

As manufacturers, we have
a responsibility to reduce the waste arising from our own processes and products, and, for those of us supplying business to business, the potential waste generated by our customers.

Read the full article in DPA's October 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.