Ruddock calls for consumer behaviour change on packaging

On the subject of carrier bags, Ruddock said that biodegradable bags were not the answer, in the same month that the House of Commons shop introduced degradable bags. 

Ruddock reiterated plans to force supermarkets to charge for single-use bags, whatever they are made of, unless the voluntary agreement achieves a substantial reduction in the number of bags distributed for free.

Ruddock, speaking at a House of Commons debate on supermarkets yesterday, said the government would lead the public on the issue of "excess" packaging.

Packaging is “top of the list in my ministerial postbag on supermarkets”, the minister said.

However, Conservative MP Gregory Barker said 2008 would go down as "the year Labour bottled on waste”.

Ruddock also branded ‘buy one get one free’ offers as “deeply unhelpful” in tackling food waste.

Packaging Federation chief executive Dick Searle said the debate presented no nasty surprises for the industry, but that it was interesting that a debate intended to address the progress of the Competition Commission turned into a debate on waste and packaging.