Valpak executive team appointments to build resilience in environmental compliance

Ben Richardson, Head of Procurement, joins Valpak from sister company Helistrat, which is also part of the Reconomy group.

Richardson will work across Reconomy and Valpak.

He said: “Reconomy manages resources through its business activities, which enables us to create packaging recovery notes (PRNs) or WEEE and battery evidence for Valpak’s producer members. This gives our members greater confidence in meeting their obligations.”

James Skidmore returns to Valpak after almost seven years at Sainsbury’s. As Environmental Resource Manager, he was responsible for rapidly expanding the retailer’s customer waste collection network and driving material up the waste hierarchy. At Valpak, he will maintain the company’s strong background in data and policy, and focus on making Valpak’s data expertise and packaging knowledge more accessible to producers such as retailers and manufacturers.

Skidmore said: “Valpak maintains the most detailed packaging database in the UK. Our analysis regularly informs policy debate, and we are looking forward to utilising this expertise and fact-based evidence to assist producers. We already have a number of projects underway to assist with the transformation to more sustainable packaging design.”

Skidmore added: “We are living in a time of great transition and robust data is more important than ever. It really is an exciting time to be involved in packaging. Change is coming and, with the right figures in place, we have the chance to make the right changes, resonate, and bring the public along on the journey.”