Plastic bags out?

A European consultation on reducing the use of plastic carrier bags has been criticised by the UK's Packaging and Films Association (PAFA) as unsupportable.

PAFA chief executive, Barry Turner, described the proposals as an “ill-informed and unwarranted intervention that appears to be politically motivated”.

Each year, EU citizens use 500 plastic carrier bags each; the consultation asks whether charging and taxation would be effective in reducing the number of bags used, or if other options such as an EU ban on the bags would be better.

However, Turner says the consultation is unfairly targeting a “highly responsible industry ... [which is] helping educate consumers on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle” and that the proposal “will bring no environmental benefits”.

European commissioner for environment, Janez Potonik, argues there is a widespread desire for change in the use of the bags which are used for only a few minutes but have a long-term effect on the environment.

The online consultation runs until 9 August.