Get-one-free deals 'boost waste'

The government has criticised buy-one, get-one-free offers at supermarkets for increasing the amount of food thrown away by British shoppers.

Environment minister Joan Ruddock told MPs the deals were "deeply unhelpful" and half-price offers were preferable.

She also criticised the culture of "fast fashion", where cheap clothes are treated as disposable.

A third of all food bought in the UK is estimated to be thrown away - about six million tonnes a year.

In a Commons debate on supermarkets, Ms Ruddock praised them for their co-operation on climate change and waste issues.

Waste 'scandal'

But she said the best way to tackle waste was not to create it in the first place, and said shops could have the "greatest influence" in that area.

"We need to start with what we buy, to know how much we need and, dare I say it, not be tempted by buy-one, get-one-free, three-for-two or two-for-ones.

"A political gesture on plastic bags is a poor substitute for an ambitious and thought-through whole life waste strategy"
Greg Barker

"When it comes to cutting down on our food waste this type of sales initiative is deeply unhelpful.

"Let's help the poorer customer, but why not offer the products at half price."

She added it was a "scandal" that £10bn of food was wasted every year.

The government has asked supermarkets to substantially reduce their use of plastic bags - and has warned them it will force them to do so if they do not.

Ms Ruddock said there were 13 billion plastic bags in circulation at the start of the campaign to reduce them and it would take 12 years to "get rid" of them.

Tory spokesman Greg Barker criticised the government for cutting funding to the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme and the Waste and Resources Action programme.

He added: "An ambitious waste policy is essential for a sustainable future. A political gesture on plastic bags is a poor substitute for an ambitious and thought-through, whole-life waste strategy.

"But for that we will have to wait for a change of government."

For the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson asked the government to consider legally binding targets on reducing packaging, if firms did not make cuts voluntarily.

She said: "Consumers are paying through the nose for excessive packaging, at the checkout and through their council tax bills."