MPs call the government to tackle supermarkets' 653,000 tonnes of plastic waste

MPs call the government to tackle supermarkets' 653,000 tonnes of plastic waste

A cross-party group of MPs have called for new targets to stop thousands of tonnes of supermarket plastic waste each year. 

A motion laid by Geraint Davies, Swansea West MP, notes that supermarkets annually use 114 billion pieces of single use plastics, which amounts to 3,000 747 jumbo jets worth of waste. 

Alan Brown MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun who signed the motion, said: “Hundreds of constituents have contacted me about tackling the plastic problem, with many switching to reusable bags and bottles or flasks. 

“Despite these efforts they haven’t been able to avoid their food being covered in unnecessary plastic packaging in the supermarkets.

“After a lot of warm words, the government must take decisive action with ambitious targets to focus minds on reducing our plastic footprint and stopping single use plastic entering our oceans.”

The motion notes that leading supermarkets in the UK fail to provide detailed data on the amount of plastic they use and therefore calls for greater transparency. 

The Environment Bill, which is due to return to Committee next month, puts new targets on exporting plastic waste to third countries, but does not include domestic use of plastics.