Alupro brought together influential politicians from Wales to discuss the circular economy

Alupro recently convened influential political figures in Wales to discuss how to accelerate national progress in achieving an effective circular economy by 2025. The meeting was held at the Senedd, located in Cardiff Bay.

The event was moderated by Ruth Mosalski, political editor of Wales Online, and panelists included Huw Irranca-Davies MS, deputy prime minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs; Janet Finch-Saunders MS, shadow cabinet secretary for climate change and the environment; Mike Hedges MS, member of the Senedd cross-party group on climate change, nature and wellbeing; Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy; and Tom Giddings, chief executive of Alupro.

During the session, they addressed policy design based on best practices, celebrated national achievements in recycling, discussed strategies to drive circular thinking, and highlighted aluminum as an essential material in packaging to achieve future sustainability goals.

Giddings, commenting on the event, noted: “This meeting has served as a valuable platform to gather input, share perspectives and drive ideas that will accelerate progress towards a genuine circular economy.”

“With its global leadership in recycling, both commercial and residential, Wales has great potential to be a benchmark in circular economy strategies. However, continued support and cross-party consensus are essential. These types of events are crucial to exchange ideas and promote innovative solutions.” he stressed.

On the policy front, Giddings stressed that Alupro is clear about what is required from the Welsh government, especially with regard to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). “We believe that ongoing support for consumer education and behavior change initiatives is key to maximizing the effectiveness of the schemes. In addition, the Welsh Government should incentivize local authorities to allocate EPR funds to improve packaging recycling and meet their mandatory targets.” he concluded.