News

The packaging industry must not get embroiled in a “materials war”, according to a senior Unilever packaging expert.

Richard Inns, the company’s packaging group chairman, told the Packaging Summit Europe last month that arguments about the superiority of one material over others “did no one any favours” because it drove debate in the wrong direction.

He also criticised attacks on the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003, saying they encouraged “good lateral thinking”.

However, on the same day, the UK’s Trading Standards Institute called on the government to revamp the regulations and increase fines for firms that breach them.

David Hedger, assistant head of trading standards in Northamptonshire, called for fines to be increased from the current maximum of £5,000.

There have only been four successful prosecutions so far for breaches.