Environment

Defra has given an insight into its Strategic Review of Packaging, which aims to set out how packaging will play a part in the climate change and resource efficiency agenda over the next decade, in a written answer to ministers.

Jane Kennedy MP, the minister for waste who replaced Joan Ruddock at Defra last month, said that the government has so far consulted with the Advisory Committee on Packaging, the Packaging Recycling Action Group, the Waste Action Forum, Improvement and Efficiency South East, the Local Government Association, Wrap, Friends of the Earth, the Sustainable Development Commission and the Green Alliance.

The Packaging Policy for England will be phased in gradually over a number of years, starting in early 2009, Kennedy wrote.

Judicaelle Hammond, head of branch for the producer responsibility team at Defra, told Packaging News that an update on discussions would be given at the end of November.

Defra held a stakeholder event on 17 October which was attended by 50 organisations including DS Smith Packaging, Sealed Air, Alupro, Corus, Incpen and the Packaging Federation.