Failure to comply with packaging regulations has led to a tobacco
company handing over nearly £3,500 to charity.
Philip Morris Limited, which produces tobacco products, and is
registered at 10 Hammersmith Grove, London W6 7AP, neglected to
register as a packaging producer as required by law during 2014.
This also meant it failed to recover and recycle waste materials
used in the course of its business, as would be required of
registered companies.
As a result, the company has paid £3,438.11 to UK charity Trees
for Cities, in what is known as an enforcement undertaking (EU).
The company also had to pay costs, including those of the
Environment Agency.
The money will go to supporting the work of the charity, which
has completed 34 planting projects in 26 cities.
On discovering the oversight in late 2015, the company worked
with the Valpak packaging producer compliance scheme to register
for the 2015 compliance year, and submit an enforcement
undertaking offer for the year that was missed. It worked with
Valpak to make a pro-rata calculation of the amount of packaging
handled in 2013, to determine the financial value of its
enforcement undertaking.
The company has now incorporated responsibility for complying
with the packaging regulations into the role of the Supply Chain
Analyst. It also has a written methodology and employs the
services of Valpak to ensure that its packaging data is
accurately recorded and reported.
Companies handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, and
which have a turnover of more than £2 million, must register with
the Environment Agency, either directly or through a packaging
compliance scheme, and meet their responsibilities for recovering
and recycling packaging waste. This comprises any material used
to hold, protect, handle, deliver or present goods, such as bags
or boxes.
Jonathan Coldicott, Senior Technical Officer in the Environment
Agency, said:
It is important that all companies make themselves aware of
their environmental responsibilities and ensure that they are
appropriately registered.
In this case, Philip Morris Limited came forward voluntarily to
make us aware of the error, and worked with us to redress the
situation.
Throughout the investigation and EU assessment process, Philip
Morris has been extremely cooperative and forthcoming.
Representatives of company have been happy to engage with us
and attended a face-to-face interview.
Enforcement undertakings allow companies and individuals to make
amends for breaching environmental regulations, including through
a financial contribution to an environmental project.
To agree this type of civil sanction, the Environment Agency must
be satisfied the offender will make changes to its operations, to
prevent future breaches of packaging legislation.
The Environment Agency continues to prosecute organisations and
individuals where evidence shows high levels of culpability and
serious environmental harm.
Notes for editors
Philip Morris Limited was sanctioned under the Producer
Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.
