East Dorset Friends of the Earth today published the results of their latest survey of plastic packaging levels in local supermarkets: Plastics – how green is your supermarket.1This shows that approximately 85% of products are still wrapped in plastic – despite supermarket’scommitments to reduce “problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic”.2 According to surveys by the Local Government Association and Which?3 most plastic wastes are not capable of being recycled,meaning that supermarkets are currently adding to the mountains of waste that have to be disposed of at Council Taxpayers’ expense.
East Dorset FoE spokesman Dr. Martin Price says: “Most food, cosmetics and cleaning products are packaged in plastic, often unnecessarily4. Our survey shows that, over the past two years, supermarkets have made very little progress in reducing the problem of single-use plastic. They have only achieved 3-6% reductions, largelyon own-brand products. Own-brand represents only about one-fifth of what they sell.”
He added: “We are asking managers of local supermarkets to meet with us to discuss ways in which they can improve their environmental impact. To encourage this we are asking BCP Council to set up and chair a Plastic Waste Forum, as part of their response to the Climate and Ecological Emergency. The Forum would consist of Council representatives, supermarkets, local businesses and environmental groups, and would aim to share ideas for making a real impact on plastic waste.”
For more information contact:
Martin Price 01202 734163
Angela Pooley 07944 657982
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