Scotland's Businesses Call for Balanced Regulation Amid Regulatory Ambitions

The Coca-Cola Europacific Partners' Director of Sustainability and Policy, Sam Jones, cautions that regulation should not stifle growth or innovation in Scotland. With the SNP Government retaining power and Andy Burnham's new government at Westminster, regulatory ambitions are high, but businesses face uncertainty amidst additional rules.

Jones believes policy changes must be measured, evidence-based, and mindful of consequences to be effective. He points out that public health outcomes can take years to measure effectively and frequent changes to regulatory frameworks can risk undermining compliance efforts for businesses and long-term evaluation.

Jones is encouraged by the relative stability in environmental policies, particularly with regards to the UK's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). CCEP is proactively helping its customers and partners prepare for the change, which aims to encourage recycling by placing a small deposit on drinks containers. Jones praises the official operator, Exchange For Change, for meeting deadlines and succeeding with output deliverables.

Jones also expresses hope that the new government will focus more on supporting hospitality in high streets, which he believes is an area where they can make a difference.