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Minister concedes flaws in packaging regulations

A considerable amount of today's Commons debate on supermarkets was spent discussing excess packaging. During her contribution, Jo pressed the Minister Joan Ruddock on the flaws in the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003. These regulations govern what constitutes acceptable levels of packaging, but Trading Standards officers have described them as "difficult to enforce" and having "little real impact" on reducing packaging.

The Minister made some important concessions in her response to Jo Swinson's speech, stating: "The hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) raised questions about the packaging regulations. We agree with her. The essential requirements do not work. We have asked for a review, but progress is slow."

Jo Swinson was due to meet Joan Ruddock today to discuss these issues, but as a result of the debate in Parliament, ended up questioning her across the floor of the House instead. That meeting has been rescheduled and will take place in 2-3 weeks.

 

Jo confronts Easter packaging offenders

Jo Swinson has reported producers of two Easter Eggs to Trading Standards officers for breaching packaging regulations.

The Easter eggs, made by Lindt and Nestle, came out worst in a survey of Easter egg packaging carried out by the East Dunbartonshire MP.

Jo said:

"These Easter eggs epitomise why consumers are so frustrated with over-packaged goods, especially at Easter. The eggs take up just 9% of the volume of the packaging, and the Nestle egg has actually increased the amount of packaging used compared to a survey I carried out last year.

"There are clear legal requirements placed on packaging, and these eggs certainly go beyond what is necessary to protect the product. You just have to look at the bewildering array of Easter eggs on offer to see that producers are locked into a packaging 'arms race', competing for space on the supermarket shelf with bigger and more attention-grabbing products."

 

Cut Excess Packaging Campaign

Jo with over-wrapped Easter eggs

Jo with some overwrapped Easter eggs

In October 2007, Jo presented a bill to Parliament, setting out her case for a reduction in the amount of packaging used for products bought in our stores. Jo said on the bill, "Excessive and wasteful packaging makes absolutely no economic or environmental sense. Despite increases in recycling, domestic waste has risen by a fifth since 1997. The average family now spends £470 per year on packaging. Government attempts to tackle the packaging problem have been much too timid and much too slow."

Jo added, "This bill sets out how to tackle excess packaging. This will include giving consumers the right to send their packaging back to the manufacturers, and helping Trading Standards Officers to clamp down on waste."

The Packaging (Reduction) Bill would see a national body set up to promote and enforce packaging reduction, as well improve existing regulations. Customers would also be able to recycle packaging in supermarkets.

There is no need for a banana to be shrink wrapped or easter eggs to come with ludicrious amounts of casing. What is required is a bill which allows consumers to dispose of packaging at the store and Trading Standards to clamp down on waste.

Take Action

There are many ways that you can take action to support Jo's excess packaging campaign:

Created by Rene Jorgensen at 11:43 on 14 August 2008

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