Comments on: SuperSize my packaging http://www.voxpolis.com/2006/supersize-my-packaging/ Politics, culture, surrealism... Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:46:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Vox Polis » Blog Archive » Will we really dump it at the checkout? http://www.voxpolis.com/2006/supersize-my-packaging/#comment-918 Vox Polis » Blog Archive » Will we really dump it at the checkout? Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:52:23 +0000 http://www.voxpolis.com/?p=57#comment-918 [...] One way forward would be the one layer policy i’ve mentioned before - but this won’t tackle the above problem. For that you have to convince people to dump their packaging at the checkout. That incentive isn’t present yet. [...] [...] One way forward would be the one layer policy i’ve mentioned before - but this won’t tackle the above problem. For that you have to convince people to dump their packaging at the checkout. That incentive isn’t present yet. [...]

]]> By: Vox Polis » Blog Archive » The Government is watching your waste http://www.voxpolis.com/2006/supersize-my-packaging/#comment-150 Vox Polis » Blog Archive » The Government is watching your waste Tue, 29 Aug 2006 09:37:00 +0000 http://www.voxpolis.com/?p=57#comment-150 [...] But the real “concern” is how this information is going to be used.  Clearly it is a precursor to a “pay as you throw” scheme where households are charged for not recycling. Although I believe this is inevitable, i’m not convinced it will work (people will just dump their waste elsewhere) and should only be implemented with an equal policy to get producers to reduce packaging- perhaps the “one layer” scheme I blogged here. [...] [...] But the real “concern” is how this information is going to be used.  Clearly it is a precursor to a “pay as you throw” scheme where households are charged for not recycling. Although I believe this is inevitable, i’m not convinced it will work (people will just dump their waste elsewhere) and should only be implemented with an equal policy to get producers to reduce packaging- perhaps the “one layer” scheme I blogged here. [...]

]]> By: Vox Polis » Blog Archive » Latest PR from McD http://www.voxpolis.com/2006/supersize-my-packaging/#comment-93 Vox Polis » Blog Archive » Latest PR from McD Sat, 15 Jul 2006 12:22:43 +0000 http://www.voxpolis.com/?p=57#comment-93 [...] The answer: “we aim to make sure that as much of our packaging as possible is made from renewable resources”.  No mention of any attempt to reduce packaging. And they certainly need to make an effect to reduce it - see my post on packaging. [...] [...] The answer: “we aim to make sure that as much of our packaging as possible is made from renewable resources”.  No mention of any attempt to reduce packaging. And they certainly need to make an effect to reduce it - see my post on packaging. [...]

]]> By: DogPatch http://www.voxpolis.com/2006/supersize-my-packaging/#comment-18 DogPatch Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:08:14 +0000 http://www.voxpolis.com/?p=57#comment-18 Some more thoughts from our environmentally friendly govenrment: <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060308/text/60308w05.htm" rel="nofollow">Supermarkets (Packaging)</a> Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce legislation (a) limiting the amount of packaging that can be used for products sold in supermarkets and (b) to require supermarkets to use easily recyclable packaging. [56119] Mr. Bradshaw: We have no plans to introduce further legislation on packaging. There are two sets of Regulations which cover packaging in the UK and which encourage businesses (including supermarkets) to minimise packaging and to manufacture packaging which can be recycled. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended) include a requirement that packaging should be manufactured so that the volume and weight are limited to the minimum adequate to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer. These Regulations also require that "packaging . . . be designed, produced and commercialised . . . to permit its . . . recovery, including recycling, and to minimise its impact on the environment . . .". The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 are intended to increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. Because the amount of packaging waste recycling businesses have to do is determined, in part, by the amount of packaging they handle, they can cut costs if they reduce the packaging used around their products. Legislation is one way of reducing packaging, but consumers have a part to play. For example, if consumers made a point of choosing goods that are not heavily packaged, or bought 'loose' food rather than pre-packaged, or used their own shopping bags or boxes, manufacturers might be encouraged to reduce the quantity of packaging on their products. Some more thoughts from our environmentally friendly govenrment: Supermarkets (Packaging)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce legislation (a) limiting the amount of packaging that can be used for products sold in supermarkets and (b) to require supermarkets to use easily recyclable packaging. [56119]

Mr. Bradshaw: We have no plans to introduce further legislation on packaging.

There are two sets of Regulations which cover packaging in the UK and which encourage businesses (including supermarkets) to minimise packaging and to manufacture packaging which can be recycled.

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended) include a requirement that packaging should be manufactured so that the volume and weight are limited to the minimum adequate to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer. These Regulations also require that

“packaging . . . be designed, produced and commercialised . . . to permit its . . . recovery, including recycling, and to minimise its impact on the environment . . .”.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 are intended to increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. Because the amount of packaging waste recycling businesses have to do is determined, in part, by the amount of packaging they handle, they can cut costs if they reduce the packaging used around their products.

Legislation is one way of reducing packaging, but consumers have a part to play. For example, if consumers made a point of choosing goods that are not heavily packaged, or bought ‘loose’ food rather than pre-packaged, or used their own shopping bags or boxes, manufacturers might be encouraged to reduce the quantity of packaging on their products.

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