Tama Assist Sustainability and Circular Packaging in Baling
If you’re running a baler machine through the season, you know how quickly plastic waste starts to pile up…..netwrap, twine, plastic silage stretchfilm, all of it.
It’s not as simple as leaving it to one side anymore. Disposal costs are increasing, and the rules on discarding them are getting stricter. But there are better sustainable plastic packaging options.
Tama UK has been developing new sustainable plastic baling products that meet this need. Designed around the idea of circular packaging, it means these baling products can either be recycled more easily or are made using recycled plastic content. This sustainable approach to plastic recycling is helping farmers deal with everything from new plastic tax thresholds and plastic use policies to the growing demand for sustainable plastic waste management.
The TamaCycle product range for baling includes both twine and netwrap made from recycled material. TamaCycle Twine contains a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content, is UV resistant and endorsed by all major baler manufacturers.
The great news is that it means it qualifies for exemption from the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), which applies to any plastic packaging under that threshold.
TamaCycle Netwrap goes a step further. The bale netwrap, roll core and outer plastic wrap are manufactured with recycled and reprocessed material, replacing the use of virgin plastic. This netwrap yields less plastic waste per bale.
EZ Web® is an option for farmers who prefer a lower plastic footprint when baling silage, hay or straw. This web contains 30% recycled content and uses two to three times less plastic per bale compared to net replacement film (NRF). It is easy to remove from the bale, and can be recycled together with stretchfilm (unlike net it does not need to be seperated).
Tama twine, TamaCycle and EZ Web are sustainable baling products designed to reduce virgin plastic while ensuring superior bale integrity.
Here’s why this all matters. The UK Plastic Packaging Tax (increased in April 2025) applies to businesses using more than ten tonnes of packaging with less than 30% recycled content.
The rollout of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR) is another policy that places more responsibility on those using packaging to report data and encourages sustainable packaging choices. While there’s no exemption for agricultural plastic yet, it’s becoming important to consider the farm’s packaging lifecycle, from the outer wrapping of bale products to how baling plastics are disposed of.
Approved schemes now support baling plastic recycling, but clean separation is essential to avoid contamination. For farms already using waste baling machines to compact and store plastic, the switch to recyclable products like TamaCycle or EZ Web® makes this job easier.
If you want to find out more about sustainable plastic packaging, which bale product is right for your operation, or how to meet current sustainability requirements, contact Tama UK today.