Defra officials gave an update on the Department’s Resources and Waste Strategy at the meeting of the UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum on 30 January 2016.

The Strategy takes forward in England the Circular Economy elements of Defra’s 25 year plan. It covers product lifecycle (on the circular economy model); topical areas (such as waste crime and food waste) and the bigger picture (for example marine plastics, research and innovation, and data monitoring).

Key commitments include those on producer responsibility for packaging. On the chemicals/waste interface, proposals are made for extended producer responsibility, ecodesign and a whole lifecycle approach, product passport, and innovation in waste treatment, such as chemical recycling.

The Strategy also touches on issues of resource security and critical raw materials, on which Defra and BIS issued an Action Plan in 2012.

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