Great news from Co-op but what about rest?

IF the report of the Co-op moving to compostable bags from plastic without some hitch is to be believed, they should be praised and rewarded in some way as a leader which takes responsibility and sustainability seriously and not as mere lip service to greenwash the chattering classes.

And if the Co-op can do it, why can’t others?

And if big supermarkets can do it, why do we have this silly situation where corner shops and market stalls “can’t”?

And why do a large percentage of the population (no names, no packdrill) try to cheat or deny reality and continue to wait for someone else to solve the problem?

Of course, the virtual extinction of traditional butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers and fruiterers who would wrap produce in paper and put it in your wicker shopping basket has something to do with it, as does the loss of doorstep milk deliveries, but we could all do our bit by shopping selectively or politely returning landfill plastic packing to the shops that push it.

Of course, ultimately we should be looking at an strong oil products tax which would raise substantial funds and incentivise all sorts of innovation - after all, oil is a finite resource and too valuable to be frittered and burnt.

In the meantime, I wish the Co-op well and hope the news isn’t too good to be true. E Denkman, Manchester

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