A new report from The University of Manchester is helping to shape national discussions on improving the recycling of flexible plastic packaging in the UK.

Dr Torik Holmes, Hallsworth Research Fellow at the University’s Sustainable Consumption Institute, has led the Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly, a cross-sector initiative bringing together industry, policymakers, local authorities and researchers to tackle one of the UK’s most persistent environmental challenges. The initiative is supported by the Henry Royce Institute’s Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub.

An estimated 215 billion plastic items (around 895,000 tonnes) are placed on the UK market each year. Flexible plastics – including food wrappers, detergent pouches and snack packaging, now make up more than a quarter of UK consumer plastic packaging. Yet only around 7% is recycled, with much of the remainder incinerated, exported or sent to landfill.

The first Assembly, held at The University of Manchester, explored what it would take for the UK to become a world leader in flexible plastic packaging recycling.

Discussions highlighted concerns about the UK’s recycling infrastructure. While reforms such as Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) aim to increase the amount of plastic collected and generate investment, there are concerns that UK reprocessing capacity is currently shrinking rather than expanding.

The report calls for more coordinated policy and infrastructure planning to ensure that increased collection of flexible plastics can translate into real recycling and circular economy outcomes.

Dr Holmes said: “Flexible plastic packaging is becoming increasingly common in everyday products, but recycling systems have struggled to keep pace. Bringing together stakeholders from across the sector helps identify the actions needed to support more sustainable packaging systems in the UK.”

A follow-up Assembly in spring 2026 will focus on practical solutions and approaches that could be scaled across the UK.

• Read the full Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly briefing paper
• Read the related Policy@Manchester article: Still trash? UK flexible plastic packaging recycling and infrastructural contraction