{"id":46978,"date":"2023-10-06T14:22:30","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T13:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grayling.com\/news-and-views\/smoke-and-mirrors-why-the-race-to-reform-food-and-packaging-policy-is-still-on\/"},"modified":"2023-10-06T14:22:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T13:22:30","slug":"smoke-and-mirrors-why-the-race-to-reform-food-and-packaging-policy-is-still-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grayling.com\/es\/news-and-views\/smoke-and-mirrors-why-the-race-to-reform-food-and-packaging-policy-is-still-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke and mirrors: why the race to reform food and packaging policy is still on"},"content":{"rendered":"

Probably the most overused word in FMCG policy right now is \u2018delay\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen the Deposit Return Scheme become the posterchild of a devolution debate, and significant business opposition to the mounting cost of Extended Producer Responsibility and PRN payments \u2013 a system which requires urgent reform. Plans for the introduction of consistent collections in England have been put on ice, leaving consumers rightly confused about which packaging goes in which bin in different local authority areas.<\/p>\n

Disagreement over how to implement the Government\u2019s waste reforms has led to paralysis. <\/strong>In the absence of a concrete plan, we have now circled back to the blue sky thinking originally set out in 2018.<\/p>\n

Plus, with a general election edging closer every day, the Government would prefer to keep its head down on this one for now. During a cost-of-living crisis, no political party wants to be seen to be driving forward policies which could add to the cost of voters\u2019 shopping baskets. And so, it\u2019s proved more politically expedient to just park it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s the same with food and public health policy; you can feel the election looming. Only a couple of years ago, industry was facing significant reform, from the extension of existing sugar taxes to the implementation of price promotion and in-store location restrictions for HFSS food and drink products. But the mood music has changed with these proposals having been \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 delayed. Putting up the price of food, or risk telling people what they can or can\u2019t eat, is not a vote winning strategy.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t be fooled \u2013 all this doesn\u2019t equate to inaction. Just because the implementation dates have been pushed back, with the Government keen to avoid unhelpful headlines, it doesn\u2019t mean that the preparatory work is on pause.<\/strong> This is an exercise to keep the critics at bay, rather than a genuine pivot in policy. DEFRA is determined to drive forward progress behind the scenes, ready for implementation after the election \u2013 which isn\u2019t that far around the corner. And the Shadow EFRA team will also be ready to pick this up where it\u2019s been left off.<\/p>\n

Election manifestos and policy pledges might give us a good window into a future government\u2019s plans once they have the keys to Number 10, but this doesn\u2019t paint the full picture. We need to read between the lines \u2013 what can\u2019t necessarily be said during an election campaign, but might be prioritised once a new government is in office. \u00a0And this is definitely the case for food and packaging.<\/p>\n

The political fire will likely be relit under food and packaging policy on the other side of the election, once an electoral majority has been secured and any new government has a freer reign and five-year window to make the more unpopular choices. <\/strong>Whether we wake up to a blue or red government the day after polling day, these reforms facing the FMCG sector will be waiting in the wings \u2013 so it\u2019s no time to disengage.<\/p>\n

Businesses<\/strong> must continue to engage on the technicalities of policy development, and – where possible – take voluntary action to prepare for future regulation<\/strong>, which will still be coming down the track. Plus, with a fresh ministerial team in post after the election, DEFRA will be looking for ideas from the experts to turbocharge progress. This gives brands a window of opportunity, during the election campaign and beyond, to show off their credentials in creating innovative packaging formats, investing in more circular waste recovery infrastructure, and to highlight efforts to provide UK families with nutritious food and household products at an affordable cost.<\/p>\n

Here at Grayling we have a specialist FMCG team on hand, dealing with these issues day in, day out<\/strong>. Our corporate reputation, public affairs and consumer brand experts are proud to help organisations:<\/p>\n