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

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2025-11-19
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=1) Introduction: Tom Stone and Bakkavor's UK Operations
- [3:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=222) Packaging Education and Career Path in the UK
- [7:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=433) Bakkavor's Business Model and Global Presence
- [10:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=605) Impact of UK Plastic Tax and EPR on Material Selection
- [16:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=966) Prioritizing Data Over Dogma in Food Waste Reduction
- [19:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=1168) Holistic Assessment: Transit, Shelf Life, and Recyclability
- [23:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w#t=1380) Applying UK Lessons to US State-Level EPR Regulations

## Topics

- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Bakkavor (company)
- UK Plastic Tax (other)
- Extended Producer Responsibility (other)
- Death Row (other)
- Blue Planet (other)
- Lorax EFI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-04-260-packaging-changes-as-you-grow-with-evies-snacks-and-belmark) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-19-329-future-proofing-fresh-food-packaging-uk-lessons-on-epr-food-waste-and-data-w. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to People of Packaging.