Side view of shelves with products (all white no labels)

Packaging and materials consultancy 

Our end-to-end packaging and materials consultancy helps eliminate waste in your supply chain while ensuring compliance with waste and packaging regulations, including pEPR. We assist businesses in embracing sustainable packaging materials, enhancing recycling rates, and reducing carbon emissions.

Get in touch

Take advantage of our complimentary, no-obligation consultation to develop your packaging and waste strategy

Our team provides expert advice on sustainable packaging best practices. We offer guidance on alternative materials, innovative packaging designs, and waste reduction strategies, tailored to your business needs.

Partner with us to simplify the legislative landscape, safeguard your brand, reduce costs, and support your journey towards net zero. Whether you need a comprehensive sustainable waste strategy or specific advice through our Packaging Surgeries, Biffa is here to help you manage your packaging waste mire sustainably, right across the supply chain.

Why is sustainable packaging important?

Sustainable packaging is essential for reducing environmental impact and catering to the increasing demand for sustainable products. By embracing sustainable practices, companies can significantly cut down on waste and associated costs whilst boosting their sustainability and brand image.

How big is the packaging industry UK?
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47.4 billion
was the estimated market size in 2024.
How much waste is produced by the industry in the UK?
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12.7 million tonnes
of packaging waste arisings in 2023.
What is the current recycling rate for packaging materials in the UK?
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64.8%
of UK packaging waste was recycled.
Various plastic bottles
How does it work?
At Biffa, we revolutionise your packaging strategy through our innovative packaging consultancy and partnerships with industry leaders.

Our goal? To help you minimise packaging waste and create sustainable, circular solutions.

How to make packaging more sustainable?

Our process:

Consult
Kickstart your journey with a complimentary, online Packaging Surgery. During this no-obligation session, we collaborate with your team to pinpoint your most pressing packaging and material waste challenges, setting the stage for impactful solutions.
Audit & Report
Post-surgery, we offer a bespoke audit and reporting service tailored to your business's needs. We examine your material streams, uncovering opportunities to eliminate waste and increase sustainability. Our detailed report provides actionable insights to guide your next steps.
Execute
Should our audit reveal new strategic opportunities, we can support you further. We take a flexible approach with our fee models to ensure you get the best value, including deducting the costs from the benefits delivered on execution, making it a win-win!

How we work with you

We pride ourselves on providing an honest, unbiased, and independent perspective on sustainable packaging solutions.
Our approach is designed to quickly identify what is feasible and practical for your business. We collaborate with you across three key areas:

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Mitigation

As legislation evolves, we proactively work to protect your business from rising packaging compliance costs. Our expertise ensures that you stay ahead of regulatory changes, minimising financial impact.
Man holding recycled glass

Innovation

We delve into every possible format, material, and system, assessing them fairly within the context of your current infrastructure and future changes. Our goal is to find the most innovative solutions that align with your business needs.
People in discussion

Education

We believe that any new solution must come with a commitment to ongoing education. We ensure that your colleagues and end customers are continuously updated on new developments, especially if any changes in behaviour are required.

Key features of our services 

Comprehensive packaging support
Complimentary Packaging Surgery to identify key areas for waste reduction and recycling improvements. This is followed by a full packaging audit to provide actionable insights and tailored recommendations. 
Access to innovative recycling partners
Collaborate with our best-in-class innovative recycling partners to develop circular solutions that minimise waste and cut costs. Together, we'll create a more sustainable and cost-effective packaging system.
Strategic waste solutions and legislation expertise
Our expert team help you eliminate waste throughout your packaging journey, maximising sustainability and efficiency. We offer comprehensive support on all waste legislation, including pEPR, Plastic Tax, Simpler Recycling, and DRS. 
Educational and Ongoing Support
Engage your customers and colleagues with our educational resources. From training sessions and webinars to gamification, we'll help you promote best practices across your organisation and supply chain, now and as your needs evolve.
Access to our BiffPack team
Our BiffPack compliance experts offer advice and can manage all your packaging data submissions, giving you peace of mind you will always be compliant.

Benefits of a packaging and waste strategy

Helping you to meet sustainability targets and celebrate success
Increased packaging efficiencies, reducing waste
Greater social outcomes that resonate with consumers
Best-in-market solutions, based on industry knowledge

Also, here's some additional help with compliance

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Packaging Compliance

Our packaging compliance service helps businesses meet regulatory requirements and improve sustainability practices. It offers expert advice, data management, and ongoing support.
Find out more
Person in Biffa high vis looking at mountain of waste

Legislation: EPR

Due in October 2025, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy which holds producers responsible for the total cost of managing their products’ household packaging from production to disposal. This includes the cost of collecting, sorting, recycling, or disposing of their products’ packaging.
Find out more
Greggs logo
Packaging is a key part of our sustainability ambition, so it is extremely useful to work alongside Biffa on their ‘packaging surgery’ concept. We’ve already identified opportunities and options for further development by combining our internal knowledge and the recycling infrastructure experience of the Biffa team, and we see this developing into a key part of our innovation approach in the future
Paul Rhodes
Greggs

Sustainable packaging case study

We want to help your business become part of a successful circular economy by prioritising reduction, reuse, and recycling in your packaging activity over recovery or disposal. We've already helped several major retailers and manufacturers streamline their processes:

Book your complimentary, no obligation packaging surgery

Or enquire about our subscription service.
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Meet our experts

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Roger

Roger is bringing 30 years of knowledge and experience gained in Packaging Manufacturing and Retail. His team have developed a unique perspective in support of any businesses efforts to become more sustainable and circular, by thinking differently about the materials they consume. A creative and collaborative approach helps Biffa and its customers redesign or design-out packaging they don't need, and implement the innovative, scalable alternative they do.

Naomi

Naomi has nearly 20 years of packaging experience, from design and print to development and consultancy. As a qualified Graphic Designer and Packaging Technologist, she bridges the gap between creativity, functionality, and sustainability. With a Level 5 Continuous Improvement Specialist qualification, she drives innovation. Having worked across both manufacturing and retail, she is passionate about real, sustainable solutions, ensuring transparency and avoiding greenwashing in the industry.

FAQs

  • What does a packaging consultant do?
  • How can we make packaging sustainable?
  • How to switch to sustainable packaging?
  • What are the challenges of sustainable packaging?
  • What makes packaging sustainable?

  • How does sustainable packaging help the environment?