155: Reduce, reuse, recycle: how food brands must adapt to help the environment

This week we once again explore the UK Environment Bill, and how it will impact food brands and manufacturers. Following last weeks look at deforestation, we now turn our attention towards packaging. With the bill placing more responsibility on producers to make changes to their packaging in order for them to be easily recyclable, we look at how food brands will need to adapt to help the environment.

Joining us are two experts in packaging and sustainability Martin Hyde, Policy Leader, Comply Direct and Julian Hunt, Vice President Public Affairs & Communications, Coca Cola European Partners. They explain what the new legislation means for the environment and how food brands will need to adapt. Join the conversation on Table Talk.

Martin is the dedicated Policy Leader at Comply Direct Ltd, responsible for engaging members in environmental legislation and regulation change, informing both internal and external stakeholders on key policy developments within the waste and resources industry and advising on significant impacts, ensuring that Comply Direct is able to pursue

the best interests of its 1600+ customers. With a background in data management, packaging consultancy and working with producers to meet their environmental compliance, Martin has a wealth of invaluable environmental policy knowledge and champions industry and customer engagement. 

His policy role is focussed on highlighting the impacts of upcoming legislation and leading the development of consultation

responses on behalf of the business and its customers. In addition, Martin has a personal passion for the Circular Economy which complements his expertise on Producer Responsibility and government measures such as the UK Plastic Tax, ensuring the meaningful, closed-loop advice and solutions which Martin regularly provides to affected organisations.

Julian Hunt joined Coca-Cola European Partners in 2011 as Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for GB. In this role he is responsible for all aspects of CCEP’s internal and external communications, as well as its sustainability and Government affairs programmes. He has recently taken on additional responsibility for Sweden, Norway and Iceland. Prior to joining CCEP, Julian was Director of Communications at the Food and Drink Federation where he helped to steer the industry through many challenging debates, not least on public health. Before that, Julian was Editor of The Grocer magazine. In June 2013 he joined the Board of OPRL Ltd, the organisation which runs the packaging recycling information scheme in Great Britain. He is proud also to have supported the work of other organisations including the School Food Trust, FareShare and GroceryAid.