SWA COMMENTS ON GLASS INCLUSION IN WALES DESPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

Commenting on the decision grant an exemption to the UK Internal Market Act in order to include glass as part of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Wales, SWA Chief Executive Mark Kent said:

“We have repeatedly called for any DRS to be consistent and interoperable across the UK to avoid additional complexity and cost for producers and consumers. The Welsh DRS as currently devised would hamper the efforts of businesses to bring about a more circular economy, increase the regulatory burden, and lead to fewer products on sale to consumers given the higher cost of supplying the Welsh market

“In line with best practice of other international schemes, the Scotch Whisky industry has long called for the exclusion of glass from DRS. The Welsh Government's decision will harm the availability of Scotch Whisky to the Welsh consumer without clear environmental benefits. It is disappointing that industry warnings and the lessons from the development of the Scottish DRS have not been taken into consideration.”

Ends.