Retail News|April 2018|www.retailnews.ie|3
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Scheme Proposed to and the fact a deposit/return scheme would duplicate and conflict with much of the work currently taking place,” he wrote. While overall recycling rates have increased in Ireland, the amount of waste disposed in landfill has risen sharply. In 2016, the amount rose to 390,000 tonnes: a 40% increase on the previous year's figure of 278,000 tonnes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The pollution is likely to worsen following news that China, which took 95% of Ireland's plastic waste, will no longer accept our recyclables. It is estimated that 2.5m bottles make their way to landfill and incinerators in Ireland every day. Plastic pollution is now a global crisis. There is believed to be over 150m tonnes of plastic in the world's oceans. Eamon Ryan called upon the country's recycling body to reform: “I think we need to repack Repak,” he said. “It needs to be done with Repak and through Repak. It's not that they need to be replaced, but they are holding onto the past. We have made recycling advances over the last 20 years, but for Repak just to say 'That's it, we've done enough', and not to see the world is moving on to higher levels of recycling, and a different level of ambition around the circular economy, is not good enough. Repak are not serving their members when they take such a defensive, rather than progressive, line.” Germany and Lithuania are amongst countries where deposit/return schemes are believed to have been successful, with respective bottle return rates of 97% and 93%. Buckley
said Ireland should not be judged against countries that do not have a green bin scheme. Public support for the idea appears to be growing, however. In a recent Journal.ie poll, 80% (7448) of respondents called for the introduction of a scheme, while 17% (1627) did not want it. Ryan, who emptied a bag of his plastic household waste in the Dáil chamber last year, believes that retailers and manufacturers will inevitably follow consumer sentiment. Lidl Ireland has announced its intention to reduce plastic packaging volumes by 20% by 2022. Nestlé has pledged to make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. Retailers, although sceptical about the implementation of a deposit/return scheme, claim they are proactive on recycling initiatives. Buckley called for alternatives to plastic packaging, citing the fact that “Some members are using compostable bags in their vegetable areas”. Jennings added: “We all want to have a better planet. CSNA is not opposed to a deposit/return scheme; we just need to be part of the conversation. We want it to be a fair system all around.” Ryan believes the retail sector has responded proactively to environmental initiatives in the past. “We were one of the first countries to introduce a charge on plastic bags [in 2002] and it significantly influenced behaviour,” he said. “There was a 90% drop in the use of plastic bags fairly immediately. It's a tangible way in which you can change behaviour. It's not outlandish, but practical. This is not punitive on retailers: there is an underlying logic behind it.”
Government Launches Brexit Loan Scheme THE Government has launched a €300m loan scheme for Irish companies to offset the potential impacts of Brexit. More than 5,000 eligible businesses with up to 499 employees can borrow at an interest rate of 4% or less, with loans available from Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank immediately, and AIB offering loans from June. Loans range from €25,000 to €1.5m per eligible enterprise, with unsecured loans of up to €500,000. Speaking at the launch, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, said she is confident the scheme “will make a real difference to firms, enabling them to adapt, change and innovate. This, in turn, will help them to become more competitive, a fundamental trait in any resilient business.” Finance Minister Paschal Donohue TD said that the scheme is designed to assist SMEs with their short term working capital needs, supporting them in preparing for the challenges that may lie ahead: “It will give SMEs time and the financial support to make the necessary changes to help ensure that their businesses remain competitive so that they can continue to grow into the future.” The scheme was welcomed by industry, with Sven SpollenBehrens, Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA), describing it as “an important element of Ireland’s response to Brexit. It will allow small firms to borrow for working capital or investment at low interest rates, ensuring businesses that are viable in the long-term can survive the challenges ahead”. He warned, however, that close monitoring will be required
to ensure the scheme’s impact on small businesses is maximised: “With loans of up to €1.5m available and companies with up to 499 employees eligible to apply, the €300m could dry up very quickly”. ABFI (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland) argued that the scheme will be an important resource for Ireland’s drinks industry, which faces unique risks associated with Brexit. Currently the drinks industry operates on an integrated all-island basis and it’s vital that seamless cross-border supply chains can be maintained, argued Patricia Callan, ABFI Director, who also stressed the importance of protecting Ireland’s all-island spirits GI’s (Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream Liqueur and Poitín).