§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what 149W assessment has been made of the potential role of degradable plastic bags in improving environmental protection; [99266]
(2) what steps her Department is taking to encourage industry to move towards the use of degradable plastic bags. [99245]
§ Mr. MeacherGovernment have not yet carried out an assessment of the potential role of biodegradable plastics bags in improving environmental protection. The Environment Agency has however been asked to include a project on impacts of replacing supermarket plastic bags with biodegradable alternatives in its 2003–04 research programme.
The Government support the development of biodegradable plastics from non-fossil fuel sources. The Government Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops was set up in March 2001 to provide strategic advice to Government and industry on the development of non-food uses of crops. The Forum has examined the UK potential to produce compostable packaging materials from mainstream agricultural crops and has concluded that there is a clear opportunity for both UK agriculture and industry to develop these materials. The Forum is encouraging industry to respond to this opportunity and develop products to supply an expanding market.