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Supermarkets "need to do more" to reduce excessive packaging
United Kingdom
Thursday 25 October 2007
The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged retailers to cut back on unnecessary packaging if the UK is to meet EU recycling targets.
An LGA-commissioned study of eight UK retailers has revealed that up to 40 per cent of an average household shopping basket cannot be recycled - a fact that is undermining efforts to increase recycling rates to meet EU targets.
The research, carried out by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB), discovered that Marks & Spencers had the lowest level of recyclable packaging in a standard shopping basket at 60 per cent, while Asda was the best performing supermarket, with 70 per cent of packaging deemed recyclable.
Councilor Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board, said: "People are working hard to increase their recycling rates, but their efforts are being hamstrung by needlessly over-packaged products on sale in supermarkets."
Local retailers and market traders were found to produce far less packaging, with a higher percentage of it being recyclable when compared to the major supermarkets.
"Councils want to work constructively with supermarkets to look at solutions to the problem of excessive packaging. There are many examples of from our research of how retailers are making it easier for customers to recycle - however, we have to question the necessity of shrink wrapping vegetables like peppers and broccoli," Councilor Bettison added.
An LGA-commissioned study of eight UK retailers has revealed that up to 40 per cent of an average household shopping basket cannot be recycled - a fact that is undermining efforts to increase recycling rates to meet EU targets.
The research, carried out by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB), discovered that Marks & Spencers had the lowest level of recyclable packaging in a standard shopping basket at 60 per cent, while Asda was the best performing supermarket, with 70 per cent of packaging deemed recyclable.
Councilor Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board, said: "People are working hard to increase their recycling rates, but their efforts are being hamstrung by needlessly over-packaged products on sale in supermarkets."
Local retailers and market traders were found to produce far less packaging, with a higher percentage of it being recyclable when compared to the major supermarkets.
"Councils want to work constructively with supermarkets to look at solutions to the problem of excessive packaging. There are many examples of from our research of how retailers are making it easier for customers to recycle - however, we have to question the necessity of shrink wrapping vegetables like peppers and broccoli," Councilor Bettison added.
