Used packaging sent back to shops

Friends of the Earth member Corrie Cuthbertson will protest in Falkirk

Campaigners are returning unwanted packaging to supermarkets as part of a campaign to cut waste.

Friends of the Earth Scotland wants store managers to tell their head offices to stop over-packaging goods.

The protest is targeting stores in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy, Elgin and Fort William this weekend.

However, the Scottish Retail Consortium described the protest as "misguided" and said stores were taking steps to boost recycling.

The protestors will hand back what they see as excess paper, plastic and cardboard, and ask shoppers to sign a petition.

Retailers and manufacturers recognise their environmental responsibilities and have a strong financial incentive to use no more than necessary Fiona Moriarty Scottish Retail Consortium

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Rosiaina Browning said: "We want to send a strong message to stores that, as customers, we find it totally unacceptable that our shopping comes so over-packaged.

"Most of it is unnecessary and is only adding to Scotland's growing waste mountain.

"Over-packaged goods waste a huge amount of valuable resources and we hope that the retailers will listen and reduce the amount of packaging accordingly."

However, Fiona Moriarty of the Scottish Retail Consortium said packaging accounted for just 3% of the total amount of waste going to landfill.

She said it informed customers and protected products.

"Friends of the Earth Scotland's tactics are misguided," she said.

Supermarkets say they are trying to improve packaging

"No-one adds packaging for its own sake. Retailers and manufacturers recognise their environmental responsibilities and have a strong financial incentive to use no more than necessary.

"At the same time they are making big efforts to innovate and boost recycling."

A Liberal Democrat MP proposed a new law at Westminster this week to tackle excessive packaging.

Jo Swinson, the MP for East Dunbartonshire, said she supported Friends of the Earth's campaign.

She said: "The public's calls for government action on excess packaging are getting louder and louder.

"I'm sure this weekend's activities organised by Friends of the Earth Scotland will leave supermarkets in no doubt about what their customers think of excess packaging."