Vox pop: Should UK packaging regulations be tighter?

NO
I think the UK should be proud of being only one of three European member states to have an enforcement agency, and politicians should make more of that fact. We believe the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations are working, but firms do need to be made aware of them. The number of prosecutions is largely irrelevant and there is no record of the number of times packs are challenged and firms react without the need for a court case. Firms already do a lot of market research, but perhaps not in terms of the Essential Requirements.
Jane Bickerstaffe, director, Incpen

YES
Trading Standards, being the enforcement body for the Essential Requirements, firmly believes the requirements relating to packaging minimisation should be toughened up. The ‘consumer acceptance’ argument makes it too easy for businesses to justify unnecessary excess packaging that is not required for product protection, technical or product usage reasons. We believe that consumers would understand the wider society benefits from doing this and soon become used to the changes.
David Hedger, acting head Trading Standards, Northamptonshire County Council

NO
It’s a very British approach to just throw more legislation at issues and it would benefit everyone if all the stakeholders in the supply chain were required to assess their contribution as part of a whole. We also need to think about our own expectations as consumers. Are we creating a demand for overpackaging because of our buying habits? In the secondary packaging sector, overpackaging is largely driven out because of the commercially aggressive nature of our market. If we really want to achieve the optimum packaging for our products the whole supply chain should be developed.
Phil Husband, packaging development manager, Smurfit Kappa

NO
Manufacturers should not need prosecutions to persuade them to design appropriate and responsible packaging. If they pay any attention to consumer views they will know that excessive packaging really irritates people – especially if it can’t even be recycled. More prosecutions may be required to prompt action, but many packaging users are now reducing packaging to save cost and to meet consumer expectations. More effective pressure on manufacturers is likely to come from retailers such as Tesco. Perhaps those in other categories will join in – prompting a new wave of innovation in packaging.
Dorothy Mackenzie, chairman, Dragon Rouge

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