Open letter calling for ban on single use plastics receives cross-party backing

An open letter calling for a government crackdown on single use plastics has received cross-party backing from 24 MPs, peers and NGOs.

The ‘Reduce, Refill and Replace Revolution’ strategy devised by global solutions agency, A Plastic Planet, outlines how the UK can steer the world in removing plastic from packaging and fashion through government legislation.

Former Conservative minister, Lord John Randall, is leading the open letter that calls on the government to back the campaign.

It stated: “Before coming to the throne HM King Charles III rightly said the world must move ‘from a model that encourages a buy, use, throw-away mentality, to one that facilitates re-use, recovery and regeneration’. We agree.

“The outgoing Johnson government began gathering evidence on the impact of 855 billion plastic sachets thrown away around the world each year, with a view to a comprehensive UK ban. But progress has faltered, wasting precious time."

The letter comes at a time when new polling evidence from Yonder revealed that almost three quarters (71%) of the public are concerned that plastic bottles, tubs and trays are not getting recycled into new plastics.

The proposals call for the introduction of single-use plastic bans on plastic sachets, bags, pots, single-use bottles and fruit wrapping as early as 2024.

Large supermarkets, which use 114 billion pieces of throwaway plastic packaging every year, will also be required to disclose annual figures on plastic use across the whole supply chain.

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: “Now is the time for [Prime Minister] Liz Truss to reset the government’s fortunes by showing real global leadership on plastic. Picking plastic items off one by one, straws, cotton buds etc, is making no impact on the devastation plastic pollution is causing. We need a comprehensive policy with teeth that sets the UK ahead as discussions commence on the UN Global Plastics Treaty. Right now there is a vacuum of intent with England lagging far behind the EU.

“Industry needs certainty so they can lead the change and only government can give this certainty through fast legislation. Where viable alternatives exist, needless plastic products must be banned and innovations incentivised until all single-use plastics are replaced.”

Signatures include Wendy Chamberlain MP (Liberal Democrat), Sarah Champion MP (Labour), Stuart McDonald MP (SNP), Lord Randall (Conservative), Baroness Burt (Liberal Democrat), and Ben Lake MP (Plaid Cymru), among several others.

In July, parliamentarians including Caroline Lucas and John McDonnell backed A Plastic Planet's campaign ‘Plastic Free Pint', which sought to ban plastic pint cups during music festivals and live sporting events.