Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to promote the (a) development and (b) use of bioplastics for single-use packaging.

No, Defra has not taken steps to promote the development or use of bio-based plastics for single-use packaging. More research is needed to ensure bio-based plastics lead to better environmental outcomes overall. During the production of these materials, there are factors such as land use change, water consumption and crop switching that could lead to detrimental environmental effects. The bio-based nature of the plastic does not affect the behaviour of the material produced.

As we are committed to transitioning the UK to a circular economy, the Government is prioritising principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling to keep resources within the economy rather than increasing production of materials and injecting additional resources.