The high penetration levels of plastic used by UK milk processors for their packaging, along with strong investment in both the country's retail and dairy sectors, makes the market a key driver for innovation, according to new research by AMI Consulting.
"The direction that milk packaging takes in the UK is a subject of interest throughout Europe," the report stated.
Dairy processors are coming under growing pressure to ensure their products are environmentally sustainable, from the manufacturing process right up to the use of packaging for goods.
Material focus
Up to 2012 and beyond, the report therefore expects the UK dairy industry to become increasingly reliant on recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) bottles for milk to tap into this changing market.
By contrast, the consultancy group says its expects use of bottles made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and its recycled form (rPET) to struggle to grow at levels of usage seen in other packaging segments.
Finding the balance
AMI strategic research manager John Nash said that the dairy industry had to find a delicate balance in terms of successfully bringing further innovation to their packaging.
"Consumers want more environmentally sensitive solutions in milk packaging, but they don't want to give up the functionality of existing packaging," he stated. "The industry needs to develop solutions based on robust life cycle analysis to address consumers' concerns."
Aside from changes within the actual packaging being used for milk bottles, AMI said that the entire dairy industry would have to adapt to ensure success in meeting its environmental obligations.
"A significant shift in the use of recyclate requires improved collection and recycling, proof of safe use and regulatory approval," the report stated. "Significant challenges downstream in the value chain are performance during filling and market positioning by the retailers."
Recycle trial
In considering these future challenges, the UK government had already begun trialing recycled plastics for use in milk bottles to help ensure it is on target to meet its green aims.
In tests conducted last year by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the group claimed that recycled plastic milk bottles were found to perform identically to those made from virgin resin while also reduce packaging waste sent to landfill sites.
In the trial, WRAP, a government-backed programme charged with ensuring that the UK meets EU requirements on reducing waste throughout the bloc, reported a 66 per cent efficiency in the recovery of high density polyethylene (HDPE), and has developed a best practice that the industry can imitate.
The government is focusing on encouraging retailers and manufacturers to cut down on packaging waste, either by reducing the amount they use for their products, or by using more recyclable, reusable and biodegradable materials.
Paul Davidson, Wrap's plastics technology manager, said consumer endorsement for recycled encourages processors to adopt the technology.
"The milk bottles that the UK can produce as a result of this trial represent the world's best practice in plastic bottle milk packaging and will save significant amounts of energy and greenhouses gases, as well as making a major contribution to landfill reduction as the technology spreads through the milk bottling industry."
