UK DIY News
Travis Perkins Introduces New Bulk Bag Ahead Of Plastic Tax Levy
- Move will save over 350 tonnes of virgin grade material in a year
In a first for the industry Travis Perkins, which is part of Travis Perkins plc, a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, has today announced that it is introducing a new bulk bag which has a minimum 30% recycled content, ahead of the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax on the 1st April 2022.
Bulk bags, which are used to deliver aggregates by Travis Perkins to builders on construction projects and sites across the UK, will be subject to the new levy. Typically bulk bags are made of 100% virgin grade material. The tax means any business that manufactures or imports 10 tonnes or more of plastic packaging that contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic will be taxed at £200 a tonne.
This move follows the publication of the company’s decarbonisation roadmap to achieve the Group’s SBTi approved carbon targets by 2035. In a year Travis Perkins estimates it will save in excess of 350 tonnes of virgin grade material from being used by making these changes to the bag.
Travis Perkins has been working closely with one of their key suppliers, Centurion Industrial Packaging since April 2021, to develop a bulk bag that reduces the level of virgin grade materials.
The bags have passed both international independent safety standard tests as well as Travis Perkins own rigorous internal testing processes to ensure they're robust enough for use in branches and on site. Production began in November 2021. The bags were tested over 4,000 times in real-life situations and put under typical duress and strain that would occur when transported in branch and on site.
The bulk bags will be sold under Travis Perkins’ own label and are now available at the nearest Travis Perkins branch or for order on our website www.travisperkins.co.uk.
John Duffy, Senior Category Manager for Aggregates and Blocks from Travis Perkins says: “With the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax, there’s a clear incentive for everyone to switch to recycled plastic. Allied with our ambition to become a net-zero carbon partner to the industry, there isn’t a better time to introduce this bulk bag to our customers. This move will not only prevent unnecessary waste but also reduce plastic pollution. By offering this solution we believe we can help the industry make changes that together will add up to a big difference for our environment.”
As outlined in the company’s fleet decarbonisation roadmap, 2022 will also see Travis Perkins continuing to pilot sustainably-sourced HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) on the delivery fleet, transitioning of Fork Lift Trucks to electric power, and provide alternative fuels to the company's Plant Hire fleet.
Source : Travis Perkins
Image : Jevanto Productions / Shutterstock.com
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