329 - Future-Proofing Fresh Food Packaging: UK Lessons on EPR, Food Waste, and Data with Tom Stone (Bakkavor)

People of Packaging · 19 Nov 2025 · 26m

What this episode covers

Tom Stone, Senior Packaging Development Controller at Bakkavor, explains how the UK’s Plastic Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation are forcing a data-driven approach to fresh food packaging. He details Bakkavor’s holistic assessment process, which balances recyclability with shelf-life extension to prevent food waste, a strategy they are applying to their US operations as state-level EPR laws emerge. Stone emphasizes that packaging decisions must be based on objective data regarding carbon impact and material performance rather than consumer dogma, ensuring future-proofed formats that meet both regulatory and aesthetic demands.

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