The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has
today called for the government to focus on reducing all single
use packaging – not just plastic – in its latest Report
on Plastic food
and drink packaging.
The Committee, which looked specifically at food and drink
packaging, has recommended that the Government should conduct a
review of reusable and refillable packaging systems to determine
what works and where Government intervention might be
appropriate.
In addition, Parliament should lead by example, with the ambition
to remove single use packaging from all its catering
facilities.
The Committee also supported Government proposals to improve the
recycling rate with extended producer responsibility, a Deposit
Return Scheme and consistency in recycling collections.
The Committee has called for a modulated plastic packaging tax,
with lower fees for higher levels of recycled content.
Furthermore, imported, filled packaging should not be exempt from
the tax as this could damage UK manufacturing.
, the Chair of the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said:
“We all know that plastic pollution of our rivers and seas is a
huge problem. However, replacing plastic with other materials
isn’t always the best solution, as all materials have an
environmental impact.
“My Committee is also concerned that compostable plastics have
been introduced without the right infrastructure or consumer
understanding about how to dispose of them. Fundamentally,
substitution is not the answer, and we need to look at ways to
cut down on single use packaging.
“Currently, packaging labelling can be confusing, unclear, or
even misleading. Ensuring that all local authorities collect the
same plastics for recycling will make it easier for packaging to
be labelled, so consumers know whether that packaging is
recyclable or not.”
