Call For Immediate Action On Wasteful Food Packaging

Fine Gael has called for immediate action to reduce the packaging on everyday products.

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune made the call ahead of a European Parliament vote on packaging and waste.

MEP Clune said that more action was needed on excessive and wasteful packaging.

"We seem to be going backwards when it comes to packaging on certain products. One has to wonder whether we really need two, three and sometimes four layers of packaging before we get to the product. Many of our fresh meats and sliced hams now come in plastic shrink-wrap, placed inside a plastic tray, with a plastic lid and finished with a cardboard sleeve. These are removed by the consumer at home and instantly thrown in the bin. This is costing the householder money in waste charges. It is wasting energy and not helping the environment," Ms Clune said.

"We need immediate action to end this hugely wasteful packaging on a pan European basis. Manufacturers, supermarkets and organisations like Repak need to play a role in tackling excessive waste packaging. Public sector recycling and waste management facilities and ultimately consumers and taxpayers are picking up the costs of manufacturers excessive packaging and it has to stop.

(MH/CD)