Tesco And M&S Chiefs Take Charge Of UK Packaging Shake-Up

Senior figures from Tesco and Marks & Spencer are among five industry experts appointed to steer the next phase of the UK Packaging Pact, as businesses step up efforts to cut waste and accelerate the shift towards a circular economy.

The appointments, reported by Retail Gazette, come three months after environmental charity WRAP launched the ten-year programme to reduce unnecessary packaging, improve recycling and encourage greater use of reusable and refillable formats.

Tesco Head of Packaging and Food Waste Strategy James Bull will chair the Scale Reuse and Refill Industry Expert Group, while M&S Head of Packaging Clare Edgar will lead the group focused on harmonising packaging data.

They will be joined by Robinson Packaging Head of Sustainability Jamie Riley, who will chair the Optimising Packaging group.

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer Stuart Hayward-Higham will oversee work supporting investment in circular infrastructure, while British Plastics Federation Director of Packaging Brian Lodge will chair the Films and Flexibles Industry Expert Group.

Together, the groups will tackle some of the packaging industry’s most stubborn challenges, including unnecessary material use, limited recycling infrastructure, inconsistent data and difficult-to-recycle films and flexible packaging.

They will also explore how reuse and refill systems can be expanded across the UK market — an area widely viewed as essential to reducing dependence on single-use packaging.

WRAP Head of Packaging Helen Bird said: “I am delighted to welcome our Chairs who will provide essential steer on priority workstreams across the Packaging Pact’s Industry Expert Groups.”

She said their involvement would help maintain momentum and ensure the Pact’s work continues to reflect the practical needs of industry.

Bull said: “Reuse is a key element in delivering a shift to a more circular economy but we know that achieving meaningful progress can only be realised through industry collaboration.

“I am delighted to be chairing this expert group as we start to lay the foundations for implementing a reusable packaging model and begin the transition to circularity.”

All five chairs will also join the UK Packaging Pact Advisory Board, with the first meetings of the expert groups expected to take place in the coming months.

WRAP has also confirmed that Diageo, L’Oréal UK and Ireland and Pilgrim’s Europe have joined the programme. Pact membership now represents around 90% of the UK grocery retail market.