LibDem 'Scrap the Wrap' campaign goes national

2.34.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Jan 2007

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP is demanding that supermarkets slash unnecessary packaging to reduce Britain's huge waste mountain. Almost 5 million tons of packaging waste are increasing local grocery bills and choking landfill sites across the country.

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP has challenged supermarkets to come clean on the amount of waste they are producing and to draw up plans to reduce it.

He is being backed by local MEP Sarah Ludford in a 'scrap the wrap' campaign against fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic coverings.

Although EU rules are sometimes blamed for cucumbers, apples and even swedes being sold in shrink-wrapped plastic sleeves, Sarah Ludford says that the fault lies entirely with British supermarkets.

"There is no EU requirement for fruit and vegetables to be sold like this, and it doesn't happen to the same extent in other European countries. Our supermarkets are simply obsessed with producing excessive packaging."

Challenged to explain why cucumbers are now wrapped in plastic, major supermarket chains claimed that they were responding to consumer demand and extending the shelf life of the product. But Sarah responded: "Nature gave cucumbers a tough green skin to keep them fresh and undamaged. They don't need any help!"

"It's time the supermarkets stopped making false claims about consumer preferences and asked people directly whether they want so much packaging. Everyone buried in unwanted packaging after a supermarket shop will give them a robust response."

"Supermarkets like Marks & Spencer and Tesco have announced some very positive environmental initiatives in recent weeks. But if they are really to be part of the solution they must demonstrate that they can reduce volumes of waste inflicted upon us."