Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to promote the (a) development and (b) use of bioplastics for single-use packaging.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No, Defra has not taken steps to promote the development or use of bio-based plastics for single-use packaging. More research is needed to ensure bio-based plastics lead to better environmental outcomes overall. During the production of these materials, there are factors such as land use change, water consumption and crop switching that could lead to detrimental environmental effects. The bio-based nature of the plastic does not affect the behaviour of the material produced.
As we are committed to transitioning the UK to a circular economy, the Government is prioritising principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling to keep resources within the economy rather than increasing production of materials and injecting additional resources.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with businesses on steps to reduce the (a) manufacture and (b) distribution of single-use plastic products other than wet wipes.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has not held discussions on reducing the manufacture and distribution of single-use plastic products with businesses.
However, officials have met with industry stakeholders through the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN), this includes producers, brands and retailers. Discussions involved reducing plastic production, including single-use plastics, and working towards a circular economy for plastics, including encouraging design for reuse and recycling.
Furthermore, legislation that will ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes was laid in parliament on 23 October. Officials have consulted and are having ongoing discussions with various industrial stakeholders regarding the ban, which is due to come into force in England on 1 June 2025. The Devolved Governments are also introducing bans, and we anticipate a shared UK wide implementation date.