New minister plans Courtauld expansion to non-food packaging

Spelman told today’s Independent that she planned to extend Courtauld to toys and other sectors of the leisure and entertainment industries and said she was “frustrated” about the amount of packaging used.

In comments that could set her on a collision course with the packaging industry, she questioned the need for some packaging.

“I’m a working mum who has to cook supper and it frustrates me that so much of what I purchase to feed the family is double- or treble-wrapped, quite often in tough plastic, and you do slice your finger trying to get into it,” she told the paper.

“While we don’t want damaged goods or anything which will compromise the safety of food, I do question how much packaging is necessary and how much is marketing.

“My teenage children are constantly bring items home in thick packaging, polystyrene and cardboard and it’s really all about making the product attractive to buy rather than packaging it safely.”

The Independent’s story comes ahead of a review of waste disposal in the UK and Spelman said she wants to “incentivise rather than hector or bully people”.

The second stage of the Courtauld Commitment was launched in March. Click here for more on CC2.

As part of government budget cuts, Defra will have to make savings of £162m.

To read the Independent’s article, click here.

More to follow…

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