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 seek the removal of plastics from supply chains; and if he will make a statement.

The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan published on 11 January sets out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We will do this through a four point plan that takes action at each stage of the product lifecycle – production, consumption and end of life. At the production stage, this includes encouraging producers to take more responsibility for the lifespan of their products. This involves designing products that are recyclable and made from recycled materials. At the consumer stage we want to reduce demand for single use plastics and make it easier for people to recycle. We will increase the amount of plastic being recycled, including through reforming the packaging waste regulations and exploring the scope for extending producer responsibility to other areas. There will be more detail in our Resources and Waste Strategy which will be published later this year.

A call for evidence on how taxes or charges could reduce waste from single use plastics closed on 18 May. The Treasury is reviewing the responses and we are working with them on future policy options.