SUPERMARKETS NEED FEWER PLASTIC BAGS AND MORE LOCAL PRODUCE - HUHNE

1.09.43pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Aug 2006

Tesco will give incentives to customers who reuse their plastic bags.

Responding to Tesco's announcement that they will give incentives to customers who reuse plastic bags, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"Over 17 ½ billion plastic bags are given out by supermarkets in Britain each year. That's enough plastic to cover the whole of England in twenty years.

"The Government should look again at introducing some form of plastic bag tax or charge for the whole country, which will make consumers think twice before throwing away their plastics bags.

"Tesco have broken new ground in providing incentives for green action, but it is important that this is not just cosmetic. Selling more local produce is one of the key green measures that supermarkets can and should take to reduce pollution."