ACE UK PRESS RELEASE: Ben Powell appointed as Head of External Affairs

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK has announced the appointment of Ben Powell as its new Head of External Affairs, bolstering progress towards the organisation’s mission of boosting liquid carton recycling across the UK.

Ben’s appointment comes at a critical time for UK waste and recycling policy, with 16 months to go until the implementation of Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility reforms, standardising kerbside collections of liquid cartons across England from April 2026.

Ben brings a wealth of public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and policy development experience, having held key roles in both the public and private sectors. Before joining ACE UK, Ben held a leadership role in a strategic communications consultancy, working with clients in sectors including energy and housing. He previously worked as a political advisor in Westminster and served as a local councillor.

His expertise will be instrumental in driving the successful implementation of these reforms: improving the quality of recyclate collected; driving necessary investment in recycling infrastructure; and supporting local councils to prepare for kerbside collection through ACE UK’s industry leading Carton Ready campaign.

Newly appointed Head of External Affairs at ACE UK, Ben Powell said: “I’m thrilled to be joining ACE UK at such a transformative time for the recycling and packaging industry. With the Simpler Recycling reforms on the horizon, there is an incredible opportunity to align the UK’s waste infrastructure with ambitious sustainability goals. I look forward to working with policymakers, local authorities, and industry stakeholders to make carton recycling an integral part of the nation’s recycling system.”

ACE UK CEO Mandy Kelly added: “We are delighted to welcome Ben to the team. His extensive background in external affairs and policy engagement will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and work to increase the collection and recycling of beverage cartons across the UK. Ben’s appointment strengthens our ability to champion liquid cartons as a sustainable and renewable packaging choice.”

About ACE UK

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK represents Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc, the leading manufacturers of liquid cartons for the UK and European markets. ACE UK’s objective is to promote liquid cartons as a renewable, fully recyclable and low carbon packaging choice and delivers environmental initiatives in the UK on behalf of our members.

Follow us on Twitter: @CartonRecycling

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Media and further inquiries: Feaven Abidta, E-mail: Feaven.Abidta@instinctif.com