Letters: Green packaging
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Green packaging
Sir: Michael Peters (Podium, 27 September) like many other anti- packaging lobbyists, ignores some inconvenient facts.
The primary purpose of packaging is to prevent waste, not to create it. Effective packaging has led to low food wastage in the West compared with developing nations, but this is usually ignored when assessing the environmental impact of packaging.
I am surprised by his figure of 75 per cent of household rubbish being packaging (in my house it is probably 50 per cent junk mail and free newspapers) but even if correct he should remember the low wastage of more valuable food.
He also ignores the great steps forward that have already been made in reducing packaging, such as the move from dangerous glass bottles for drinks to paper cartons or lightweight PET.
Finally, the orange and the banana are by no means paragons of virtue. The skins will sit undecomposed in landfill sites for decades and are difficult to burn for energy recovery, and impossible to recycle - as well as causing tripping hazards in many silent movies.
PAUL WRIGHT
Hale,
Cheshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments