85% of Britons say they’ll shun food in packs they can’t recycle

THE vast majority of Britons want super- markets to stop using plastics that cannot be recycled. A poll found 85 per cent do not want to buy food wrapped in non-recyclable packaging, amid growing pressure on stores to reduce their plastic footprint.

In addition, 80 per cent said they would be more inclined to recycle if the system was clearer. More than half the 2,000 poll participants agreed that labelling on plastic packaging does not make clear if it can be recycled. Currently the labelling of packaging is voluntary, meaning many customers might not be aware that black plastic trays in vegetable packets, for example, cannot be recycled.

The poll, for ITV Tonight, also found nearly 75 per cent back a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles – as campaigned for by the Mail. A special episode of Tonight, which airs at 7.30pm this evening, will show how one Leeds family reduced their plastic consumption from two full bin bags a week to a few pots.