Labelling

The packaging industry has welcomed an acknowledgment by Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King of the importance of packaging, but warned there was "still too much greenwash".

King today (17 April) announced the supermarket aimed to half its carrier bag use within 12 months, but attacked proposed charges on carrier bags as "unlikely to achieve lasting benefit for the environment".

"Forcing customers to make a decision they don't fully understand is not the best way to obtain behavioural change," he said.

Sainsbury's is also committed to using 50% recycled content in bags by June 2008, and will reward customers who reuse bags with Nectar card points.

Packaging Federation chief executive Dick Searle welcomed a "more balanced debate" and said he appreciated retailers "don't want to be at war with the government", but added: "I just wish some of the policies they adopt were more mindful of the science."

Writing in today's Daily Telegraph, King defended his firm's decision not to introduce charges on plastic carrier bags by highlighting the mixed success of the Irish levy and the relative environmental benefits of paper bags.

He defended the role of packaging to protect and preserve food, and called on the government to develop a national recycling system. "I'm not saying plastic and bags are not an issue, but let's engage people in sensible debate to effect real and sustainable change," he said.