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Origin Green is Ireland’s national food sustainability programme led by Bord Bia. The Origin Green programme is delivered with the help of national and international partners. The ongoing assistance and involvement of a range of organisations ensures the successful implementation of the programme. In this interview, we speak with Brian Walsh, Packaging Technologist at partner organisation, Repak.
What is Repak and what does it do?
Repak was established in 1997 and is approved by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to act as a member based packaging compliance scheme for Ireland. Repak’s 3,000 members are producers of packaging who pay a volume-based fee that is used to subsidise the collection and recovery of waste packaging for sorting, separation and recycling across Ireland.
Thanks to Repak members, over 10.9 million tonnes of packaging has been diverted from landfill since 1997, and the number of landfills has reduced from 126 to 3.
Ireland now ranks the 7th highest country in the EU for packaging recycling and recovery, currently achieving 91%, of which 68% is recycling and 23% is recovery. In the past two decades, over €410m has been invested through Repak by its members to fund the recycling and recovery of packaging waste. These funds are used to subsidise the recycling bins outside almost 1.2 million homes, 1,848 bottle bank sites and 145 civic amenity sites. Repak also has a public education remit which is achieved through a number of national information programmes annually to promote best recycling practices.
What is Repak’s Prevent & Save Programme?
Prevent & Save helps Repak members to optimise their packaging systems and save money while at the same time preventing waste. This ’stop waste before it happens’ approach help to reduce waste management costs, as less packaging is placed onto the Irish market. Where waste cannot be avoided, our team of packaging technologists can also advise Repak member businesses on how to segregate waste effectively. Since 2006 Prevent & Save has assisted members with packaging procurement savings of more than €365m.
In Association with
How does Repak work with Origin Green?
Repak works in partnership with Origin Green to ensure that compliance with the packaging waste regulations is a key consideration for Origin Green members. Repak also works with Origin Green to help reduce the quantity of packaging waste created in Ireland and to help Origin Green members with packaging design that maximises recycling.
How can Repak support Origin Green members?
As part of the service, a member of our packaging technology team can visit a company’s site to carry out a Packaging Optimisation Survey. This is where we look at packaging coming into and out of the business. After the survey, we will provide a detailed technical report that guides companies through reduction opportunities identified during the visit. In 2018, we ran a series of Prevent & Save packaging clinics exclusively for Origin Green members. We are looking to collaborate with Origin Green on similar training throughout 2019.
For more information on the Origin Green programme, visit origingreen.ie
