Resources strategy: a good start but more action needed in 2019

Reacting to the publication today of the government’s Resources and Waste Strategy for England, Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group said: “With 80% of a product’s environmental impact determined at the design stage, this Strategy is a welcome step forward in that it moves the focus of England’s resources and waste policy beyond just recycling and towards the early stages of a product’s lifecycle. We welcome in particular the intention to consult on new rules for extended producer responsibility schemes, the plan to broaden their scope to include a wider range of products as well as the intention to introduce product standards setting minimum resource efficiency criteria, which together could have a significant impact in improving the quality of products put on the market.

The intention to take greater consideration of social and environmental impact in public procurement decisions and the potential introduction of clear eco-labels, product assurance schemes and warrantees could, subject to the final details, also play an important role in driving the demand for resource efficient products and secondary materials. We would urge the government however to also consider the role of fiscal incentives such as VAT rebates in driving consumer uptake and to exceed its goal of doubling resource productivity early as research suggests far greater improvements are possible.”

Nick Molho added: “Despite the positive sense of direction provided by this Strategy, a lot of the measures announced today are either subject to consultation or at an early exploratory stage. It will be essential for the consultations and actions referenced in the strategy to make rapid progress in 2019. Greater resource efficiency is critical to cutting waste, cutting emissions and improving the competitiveness of our economy and it is essential that the Brexit process doesn’t result in a further delay to policy progress in this area [1].”