FIRMS are swapping to other packaging materials which are potentially even worse for the environment, the cross-party Parliamentary group warns.
Glass bottles, for instance, are much heavier than plastic so are far more polluting to transport. Paper bags tend to have higher carbon emissions than plastic bags – and are more difficult to re-use.
The change in packaging materials has been prompted by concern from shoppers about the impact of plastic waste in the oceans.
But the authors of the report, called Plastic Promises, say the consequences of using new materials have not been properly assessed.
Several supermarkets, for instance, are selling more drinks in coated cartons under the assumption that they can be recycled.
The group has been working with recycling organizations to survey shops’ anonymous responses to public anxiety about plastic polluting the oceans.
The report says: “Over 80 percent of consumers think biodegradable or compostable plastic is environmentally friendly, but there is little understanding of what the terms mean and how the material should be dealt with.
The retailers worried that confusion could potentially harm the environment if people either put “compostable” plastic in with conventional plastic, or littered it, wrongly assuming it would biodegrade like an apple core.
Some companies that had tried using this type of plastic also suggested that the material did not degrade as expected in real world conditions.
One firm is quoted as saying: “Consumers are hugely confused about what bio-based, compostable and biodegradable mean. We are aware that [by switching from plastic to other materials] we may, in some cases, be increasing our carbon footprint.”
Andrew Opie, from the British Retail Consortium, echoed calls for a clearer strategy.
“A coherent waste and resources strategy is one that prioritizes reducing the environmental impact of the things we buy, not simply reducing plastic use,” he said.
The government published its resources and waste strategy in 2018, and has conducted initial consultations on three policies: extended producer responsibility for packaging; introducing a deposit return system for drinks bottles; and bringing in greater consistency for recycling and waste collections.
Ministers say businesses will pay for 100 percent of costs for dealing with material when it becomes waste, as opposed to around 10 percent currently. (BBC)
