UK: More details on the GIMA day conference

Ahead of its first Day Conference of 2022, GIMA has revealed more details about what attendees can expect to learn during the one-day event focused on Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR).

Taking place on February 17th at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire, the packed agenda will look at the EPR regulation changes that are set to come into effect in 2023. These changes will see any businesses that turn over more than £1million, or handle more than 25 tonnes of packaging annually, become responsible for the full cost of managing all packaging they place into the market.

Kickstarting the day will be Josh Remi, Commercial Manager at Ecoveritas. Josh’s session will explain how and why the new Extended Producer Responsibility regulations are being introduced, outline which businesses will be subject to new obligations and give more details regarding the expected estimated costs.

Josh will be followed by Tim Hayne, Head of Marketing at Wessex Packaging, who will be providing a quick overview of the forthcoming Plastic Packaging Tax being introduced by the government in April 2022.

After Tim there is set to be an informative panel debate which will focus on the fees that will become payable under the new EPR. This session will invite debate about the impact of packaging types and potential changes that are likely to directly impact costs under EPR, covering a range of topics, including: ‘Choosing recyclable materials’, ‘Contamination issues in horticultural products’, ‘Flexible packaging recycling rate’, ‘Managing compostables in the scheme’ and ‘Commercial, industrial & transit packaging’.

Joining the panel will be a range of industry experts and suppliers who have all already encountered challenges and/or developed products and strategies that will impact their fees under EPR. Look out for insight from Jane Hartley, Marketing Manager, Evergreen Garden Care; Nick Mathias, Managing Director, Floramedia; Sam Marriage, Managing Director, WHM Pet Group; Tim Hayne from Wessex Packaging; Tom Mason, Innovation Manager, Flexipol Packaging; George Atkinson, Policy Manager, Valpak; and Josh Remi, Commercial Manager Ecoveritas.

Following a networking lunch, delegates will be joined by Valpak’s Policy Manager, George Atkinson for the day’s final session entitled ‘Data Collection & Submission for EPR’. George will be covering the information and data that businesses will be required to collect and submit under the new EPR, as well as outlining the latest estimated timescales for implementation. He will also explain how Valpak support their clients with data collection and submission.

Talking ahead of the day, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall, said: “Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations are a complex and daunting prospect, so with this latest GIMA Day Conference we hope to cut through some of the noise and arm delegates with the confidence to move ahead with the changes in the year ahead. A huge thank you must go to our team of experts who will be joining us on the day to share their insight, experience and knowledge. It is much appreciated.”