Anne Main MP has welcomed the news today that 40 UK firms have pledged to cut plastic pollution over the next few years.
Major companies such as Marks and Spencer and Coca-Cola have joined the pledge that will see a significant cut in unnecessary plastic packaging and a move to make all plastic packaging either recyclable, reusable or compostable in the next 7 years.
Signatories to the pledge, such as Asda and Sainsbury’s, account for over 80% of plastic packaging sold by UK supermarkets.
Anne Main, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Prevention of Plastic Waste said, ‘The announcement is wonderful news. There is real public momentum behind this issue now and we should hope to see major changes.’
Mrs Main raised the impact this public momentum has had on schools, saying: ‘I have been pleased to hear how engaged schools have been on this issue too. I met with Sandringham School in St Albans recently and they were able to tell me about their focus on educating pupils to reduce waste plastics and how the school have established a recycling target that they are aiming to hit.’
The pledge announcement comes following growing pressure from government on supermarkets to reduce plastic waste. The environment secretary, Michael Gove, has been vocal in his ambition for the UK to be global leaders in the fight against plastic waste.
Mrs Main said, ‘The plastic bag tax was so effective in changing consumer behaviour and reducing waste. I hope that with all the big retailers on board we will see similar results on single-use plastics.’
‘This is good news for the government’, said Mrs Main. ‘Proposals on plastic straws and bottle return schemes from government have no doubt prompted the industry into action.
‘This issue requires engagement from the consumer, retailer and government – I think this announcement shows that progress is being made. It is important that pressure is maintained to ensure supermarkets can carry out this pledge and meet their targets.’
Asda will be coming to address Mrs Main’s APPG in the next few weeks to hear what more can be done by supermarkets on this issue.