Alliance encourages all shops to go green and cut out plastic packaging

11.42.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 8th Sep 2006

Alliance Environment Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson

Alliance Environment Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed Sainsbury's decision to cut down on plastic packaging, as it will bolster efforts to protect the environment. Stewart Dickson said that other retailers should follow suit and that a levy on plastic bags should also be introduced. Sainsbury announced that they are going to sell more than 500 of their products in compostable packs instead of using plastic packaging.

The Carrickfergus Councillor stated: "I welcome the fact that Sainsbury are going to cut the amount of plastic packaging which they use, and I strongly encourage other retailers to follow suit on this matter.

"Sainsbury plan to use more biodegradable packaging for their products. This measure will have a very positive impact in the area of environmental protection

"The Alliance Party has campaigned for a long time for the introduction of a plastic bag levy to help prevent pollution, and this move would supplement the work done by retailers in the sphere of environmental protection.

"When a levy on plastic bags was implemented in the Republic of Ireland, it reduced plastic bag usage by 90% and provided over £93 million for environmental schemes. These statistics illustrate that the introduction of this legislation in Northern Ireland would have an extremely positive effect on the environment."

ENDS