Minister appeals for a counter revolution to curb packaging
Valerie Elliott, The Times (London)
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Shoppers have been called upon to mount their own wrapping paper revolution by dumping excessive packaging at the supermarket checkout and reporting companies to the waste police.
The call for action was made yesterday by Ben Bradshaw, the Environment Minister, who is determined to cut down on food and packaging waste.
He said: "I would urge the public to leave it (packaging) at the checkout and leave the supermarkets to deal with it and then report the item to trading standards officers."
The move could bring chaos to supermarkets and department stores in the run-up to Christmas.
Mr Bradshaw is convinced that consumer displeasure, accompanied by the threat of prosecution, could convince companies to stop smothering items in extra paper and plastic.
A manufacturer found guilty of using excessive packaging on a single item faces a fine of up to #5,000.
Consumers can take action under the Packaging (Essen- tial Requirements) Regulations 2003 by contacting their local trading standards officers.
In May this year Cambridgeshire County Council took action over tins of Cadbury's Giant Chocolate Fingers on sale at Tesco stores after receiving a number of complaints. Biscuits measuring 116mm were sold in tins 167mm long.
Burton's Foods Limited, which made the biscuits under licence for Cadbury, was fined #7,000 including costs for excessive packaging and breaches of the trade descriptions act.
In September 2004 Northamptonshire County Council took action against Office World after making three test purchases. Boxes were found to be only 7 per cent full, 19 per cent full and 27 per cent full. The company was fined #2,000 plus #550 costs.
Mr Bradshaw also served warning that he was ready to tighten the existing legislation if packaging and food waste were not reduced.
His remarks were endorsed by Gregory Barker, Conservative environment spokesman, who said that consumers were fed up with excessive packaging, which not only damaged the environment but was also "annoying and unnecessary".
He said: "This consumer activism is to be encouraged as we are all in this together."
Last night supermarkets and retailers seemed relaxed about Mr Bradshaw's remarks.
A spokeswoman for the Food and Drink Federation said: "We don't put packaging on goods for the sake of it. It is a cost to us, but we must ensure products get home in a state fit for consumption."
A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "We would say packaging is vitally important to ensure product safety and that it is not damaged in transportation.
"The minister is entitled to say what he has and we don't think it is illegal for shoppers to leave wrappings in stores."
Until now, few consumers were even aware that they had a legal right to complain about excessive packaging to trading standards officers. There is no precise formula or equation to definite what is "excessive". The law states that volume and weight must be minimal to ensure safety, hygiene and acceptance of the product by the consumer.
In Germany it has been common practice since 1993 for retailers to allow shoppers to unpack their goods into boxes and leave packaging in stores for disposal.
Mr Bradshaw has already started a personal mission to leave wrappers and food packs in stores. He buys almost all his fruit and vegetables loose except for soft fruit such as raspberries, which would otherwise liquidise, or cucumbers, which are sold inside a plastic skin to ensure water retention and prevent them turning to pulp.
A spokeswoman at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "As a general principle the minister's remarks can apply to all sources of waste packaging, such as toys and electronic equipment, and is not just directed at supermarkets."
The need for action comes after a growth in packaging waste by 12 per cent from 1999 to 2005, a trend blamed on the increased popularity of ready meals and pizzas and the growth of single-person households.
Heinz, Northern Foods and Unilever have also signed up to waste reductions.
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