The Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) has been urged to revert to its original definition of carrier bags, after its reduction programme recorded a 14% drop in the amount of virgin plastic used in the past year.
Packaging and Films Association (Pafa) chief executive David Tyson said the reduction was a "very creditable achievement" but there should not be a material-specific focus.
"At the time [the scheme was launched] the government said this was not a 'plastic' initiative. It should be measuring the weight of all bags, whatever the material, that are deemed to be single-trip bags," he said.
Wrap announced the reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags, as measured by the amount of virgin plastic used, after a meeting with retailers and the government on 28 February.
It said the results put the scheme "broadly on track" to achieve a 25% reduction by the end of the year, but was "disappointed" by progress in cutting carrier bag use.
Carrier bag use in the same period fell by 7.5% from 13.4 billion to 12.4 billion, meaning there was "clearly no room for complacency", Wrap said.
There were differing successes among retailers in the use of virgin plastic in carrier bags, which ranged from a 70% fall to a 22% increase.
Richard Swanell, Wrap's director of retail and organic programmes, said there was now "clear momentum" from retailers, although "clearly more work needs to be done".
In February 2007, 21 retailers and the UK governments set a reduction target for the environmental impact of carrier bags of 25% by the end of 2008.
The retailers included the four largest multiples as well as John Lewis, the Co-op and Marks & Spencer.
M&S is to start charging 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags at all of its UK food outlets from 6 May. The Prime Minister has also become involved again in the plastic bag debate. Writing in the Daily Mail today (29 February), Gordon Brown said the government would "take the necessary steps" if retailers did not do more to reduce plastic bag use.
Source: packagingnews
Packaging and Films Association (Pafa) chief executive David Tyson said the reduction was a "very creditable achievement" but there should not be a material-specific focus.
"At the time [the scheme was launched] the government said this was not a 'plastic' initiative. It should be measuring the weight of all bags, whatever the material, that are deemed to be single-trip bags," he said.
Wrap announced the reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags, as measured by the amount of virgin plastic used, after a meeting with retailers and the government on 28 February.
It said the results put the scheme "broadly on track" to achieve a 25% reduction by the end of the year, but was "disappointed" by progress in cutting carrier bag use.
Carrier bag use in the same period fell by 7.5% from 13.4 billion to 12.4 billion, meaning there was "clearly no room for complacency", Wrap said.
There were differing successes among retailers in the use of virgin plastic in carrier bags, which ranged from a 70% fall to a 22% increase.
Richard Swanell, Wrap's director of retail and organic programmes, said there was now "clear momentum" from retailers, although "clearly more work needs to be done".
In February 2007, 21 retailers and the UK governments set a reduction target for the environmental impact of carrier bags of 25% by the end of 2008.
The retailers included the four largest multiples as well as John Lewis, the Co-op and Marks & Spencer.
M&S is to start charging 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags at all of its UK food outlets from 6 May. The Prime Minister has also become involved again in the plastic bag debate. Writing in the Daily Mail today (29 February), Gordon Brown said the government would "take the necessary steps" if retailers did not do more to reduce plastic bag use.
Source: packagingnews
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