Karen Graley has been appointed as the Head of the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR).
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) announced the appointment.
Graley has 30 years of experience working on packaging strategies across major UK retailers, including Safeway and Waitrose, and most recently in her role as Head of Packaging at Marks and Spencer.
Graley is also a founding member of the Board of Directors for the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme.
Reacting to her appointment, Karen Graley said: “I am truly honoured to be appointed as the Head of the PRO at this pivotal moment for the future of the UK’s recycling system.
“The PRO’s success hinges on collaboration between producers, industry stakeholders, local authorities, and the wider community.
“I look forward to working together with all these partners to drive collaboration so we can achieve the shared goals of improving recyclability and ensuring resources are used efficiently and effectively.”
Graley sits on the EPR Interim Steering Group, which was created to support the mobilisation of the scheme and the formation of the scheme’s administrator, PackUK. She was also previously on the Government’s Advisory Committee for Packaging.
The PRO is being established by packaging producers across all the sectors covered by EPR, led by FDF and the INCPEN, to ensure that the fees raised by producers contribute to an increase in recycling rates.
The organisation will act on behalf of producers to represent their views in the scheme, support local authorities, and attract investment into recycling infrastructure.
As Head of the PRO, Graley will work with PackUK and key stakeholders across the UK’s four governments to set up the PRO and ensure it achieves its purpose of delivering a circular economy for packaging.
Paul Vanston, Chief Executive Officer of INCPEN and Chartered Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), commented: “We welcome Karen to her new role with enthusiasm and warmth at an incredibly important time to establish the PRO on firm foundations with Pack UK and the four UK governments.”
“INCPEN and the FDF are serious in our intent to create a PRO that delivers the highest quality economic and environmental outcomes for the UK, for obligated producers and across the value chain.”
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