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Packaging manufacturers and brand owners must lobby their local members of parliament to bring more balance to the parliamentary debate on packaging, according to the industry's champion in the House of Commons.

MP Eric Illsley, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for the packaging industry, told delegates at the 2007 Farapack briefing in York today (November 7) that without more lobbying from industry, consumers would "run away with the idea that all packaging is excessive".

Illsley said much of the parliamentary debate on packaging had been characterised by ignorance among MPs of packaging's role.

"Nearly every early-day motion tabled by MPs has talked about excessive packaging to the extent that the phrase 'excessive packaging' is becoming parliamentary language," he said.

Illsley led an adjournment debate in the House of Commons in June to highlight more packaging facts rather than misconceptions.

But he said that a 10-minute rule bill introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson on October 10 showed that many MPs still focussed on excessive packaging. The bill, called the Packaging (Reduction) Bill does not stand any chance of being taken forward in parliament.

Illsley also said that many MPs had "no concept of the benefits of packaging" in protecting products, providing choice and delivering vital information to consumers.