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The UK press have misunderstood the European Commission’s plastic bag plans, an EC spokesman told Packaging News.
Newspapers such as the Daily Express, the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph reported, this morning, that Brussels planned to ban free plastic shopping bags in Britain.
Speaking to Packaging News, an EC spokesman for environment said that the Commission is still considering the various options available to reduce the environmental impact of plastic carrier bags.
He said at this stage it cannot draw conclusions on possible future measures.
Green Paper on plastic
The EC plans to publish a Green Paper on plastic waste soon, possibly in May or June.
An EC spokesman explained: “Firstly, there has been a misunderstanding in the British press this morning. They are taking the result of the public consultation and drawing conclusions from it. This should not be the case.
“Secondly, when we have a clear idea on what we want to do on plastic bags we will put this in the Green Paper in the framework of plastic waste in the next few weeks, possibly in May or June.”
He said that options other than a ban may include pricing measures or reduction in plastic bag use.
Consultation
In May 2011, the EC opened a stakeholder consultation to seek views on reducing plastic bag use. It asked if charging and taxation would be effective, or if other options such as an EU-level ban on plastic carrier bags would be better.
The consultation closed in August 2011 and the EC received 15,538 responses. A total of 52.85% of people strongly agreed that an EU ban on plastic carrier bag is needed.
Some of the research questions have been criticised by some in the packaging industry as gearing the respondents towards answering in a way that led to a ‘yes’ to favouring a ban.
Incpen criticised the questionnaire. In its response to the consultation, Incpen said that the questionnaire did not “allow us to explain our views because it starts from the unjustified, prejudiced assumption that the use of plastic carrier bags should be reduced and does not allow that premise to be challenged”.
‘Highly unlikely ban’
Speaking about the issue earlier this year, PAFA chief executive Barry Turner told PN that he thought that it would be highly unlikely that a ban would or could be implemented.
He added: “Our industry and retailers are engaged with the commissioner with a view to agreeing measures that will further reduce the environmental impact of these products and that will continue to build on industry initiatives already successfully implemented.
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