§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on the soap and detergent industry's code of good environmental practice; to what extent this code complies with the proposed standards and initiatives his Department is considering for greater eco-efficiency in the home; and if he will make a statement. [54817]
§ Mr. MealeThe code is a welcome initiative by the soap and detergent industry. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy and is in line with the Government's market transformation approach for consumer products. In particular, the industry's proposal to provide guidance to consumers on the responsible use of laundry detergents and their packaging, and to set quantifiable targets against which progress can be audited independently, provides a positive example for other industry sectors to follow.
In order to meet the Government's wider aims for reducing energy consumption and other environmental impacts, the industry will need to demonstrate that the targets it has set for itself are being achieved. My Department is currently in discussion with the Soap and Detergent Industry Association on this point, and on how we can work together to integrate this initiative within our wider environment strategies.