IRELAND is expected to generate 97,0000 tonnes of packaging waste this Christmas, an increase of four per cent on last year’s figure.
New research from the environmental, not-for-profit organisation, Repak has revealed that 93 per cent of shoppers in Ireland receive Christmas gifts each year that they don’t use.
The study found that 68 per cent would spend more on sustainable gifts, however shoppers prioritise price (42 per cent) and value (19 per cent) over recyclable gifts (12 per cent) when buying Christmas presents .
The research of 2,653 shoppers in Ireland was carried out by Repak to examine their attitudes towards sustainability at Christmas.
Repak is encouraging the public to make a conscious effort to reduce waste, and recycle correctly, helping Ireland transition to a circular economy. Ireland currently recycles 31 per cent of all plastics, but that needs to increase to 50 per cent by 2025 under EU Legislation.
CEO of Repak, Séamus Clancy commented on the research findings: ‘Christmas is a particularly busy time for waste collection operators, as more packaging is generated at this time of year. It is vital we all play our part to ensure we recycle our packaging to help us live in a circular economy, keeping our natural resources in use as much as possible. It is now widely recognised that a linear economy of take – make – dispose is no longer sustainable. We can all make a big difference every day by recycling our packaging correctly, clean, dry and loose.’
To find out more information about best practice recycling, take two minutes to join Repak Team Green at repak.ie/team-green.
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