Recyclable Packaging Petition Reaches Parliament

Pressure on the UK government over packaging and sustainability has reached a new level after MPs discussed a petition which urges the ban of all non-recyclable food packaging.

The petition, which attracted over 240,000 signatures in six months, included signatures from MPs – including MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner, who opened the debate.

The Petitions Committee heard from just under 20,000 people about their experiences with plastic packaging. Despite a majority saying they would choose to buy groceries without plastic packaging, many reported that they were unable to do so at their local shops.

In response to the petition, the government stated, “Our Strategy sets out plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste. We have consulted on proposals to incentivise producers to make more sustainable packaging design choices and recyclable packaging.

“Most food packaging is technically recyclable, though the current market does not make all recycling economically viable.”

The petition states, “Today the Earth is at a crisis point due to our plastic consumption, and as a result, people in the UK are more willing than ever to engage in recycling. Yet so much food packaging remains completely, frustratingly unrecyclable. Let’s aim for the UK to lead the world with a 100% recycling rate.