Closed petition Actively work to reduce the use of plastic packaging by retailers in the UK

Closed on 24 July 2016

A new report by the Ellen McArthur Foundation states that by 2050, the world's oceans could contain "More plastic than fish." In accordance with global environmental goals and the recent talks in Paris, the government should start actively tackling plastic waste produced by large retailers in the UK

"Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean - equivalent to the contents of one garbage truck every minute."

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/the-new-plastics-economy-rethinking-the-future-of-plastics

The introduction of the 5p plastic bag charge has reduced bag usage by 78% (data from Tesco). Now it is time for the government to put the onus onto retailers to drastically reduce the use of environmentally damaging materials as packaging.