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The packaging industry has used this week's Soap Box forum to hit back at claims that packaging is at the heart of the UK's "throwaway culture".

Charles Bishop criticised the mixed messages about what was expected of the industry and consumers alike. "There was a big push for biodegradable polymers which encourages the disposable culture rather than the re-cycle culture.

"Coupled to that there has been a decline in things such as waste bins because of them being sites for terrorist bombs and often a focus for hooligans to kick around in the evenings. Thus we have packaging that we want to dispose of and nowhere to put it," he said.

Packaging Federation chief executive, Dick Searle, defended packaging's role in "enabling modern lifestyles".

"The widest range of goods are only available 24/7 because of the job that packaging does. And in doing this job, it keeps wastage down to very low levels - thereby avoiding the substantial environmental impact of wasted products," he said.

Albert Shuttleworth said that littering was a social behaviour and not something that packaging should be criticised for.

"Do we blame cars for motorway accidents and death on the roads, or do we blame drivers? Is it alcohol's fault that people choose to drink drive or do we blame the mindless individuals responsible? Do we ban cigarettes because people choose to smoke?" he asked. "Why then do we blame 'packaging' for litter?"

Do you agree with this view? Or do you feel that packaging is responsible for the UK's "throwaway culture"? Click here to Soap Box to have your say.