Defra Minister praises B&Q's packaging initiative

A Government environment minister has praised B&Q’s efforts to reduce its packaging waste as he pledged to focus on product design as well as packaging in the upcoming Waste Review.

Packaging News first broke the story that B&Q had swapped the cardboard packaging it used to use to transport kitchen components for a reusable packaging system.

Speaking at a Parliamentary debate about waste reduction (18 May), Defra Minister for the Natural Environment Richard Benyon praised B&Q’s packaging reduction measures.

He said that B&Q’s scheme had prevented 435 tonnes of cardboard waste and saved the company about £80,000 per year. He also said: “By using only as much packaging as is necessary to protect goods, businesses can save money on raw materials and transport costs.”

The long-awaited Waste Review is to be published in June. Benyon said that the Government is looking “not only at the packaging that surrounds the products, but at the products themselves”.

He continued: “We need to encourage companies to design products differently to avoid waste. Products need to last longer – to be upgradeable, repairable and reusable. Working with WRAP, we are helping organisations to develop new business models for a greener economy.”

Source : Liz Gyekye - Packaging News.co.uk
www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/defra-minister-praises-bqs-packaging-initiative/