Time for online retailers to reduce plastic packaging – Naughton

It is time for online retailers to significantly reduce plastic packaging, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Hildegarde Naughton, Fine Gael Galway West TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, has highlighted the huge amount of packaging used by online retailers and called on them to change their approach.

Deputy Naughton said: “The Government is leading the way on this issue by banning single use plastics as part of its ambitious Climate Action Plan.

“Even before the ban comes into place we are already seeing a positive impact with retailers getting on board. Many shops have significantly reduced the amount of plastic packaging in their shops and customers, with an increased knowledge of the global climate crisis, seem to be responding well.

“Online retailers must now look at emulating what their counterparts on the high street are doing.

“This Christmas, with online shopping on the increase, people will no doubt have noticed that presents bought online arrived under the tree with far too much packaging. Even clothing items, which are not fragile, seem to come package in layers of paper, plastic and cardboard. It is entirely unnecessary.

“I am calling on the online retailers to look at this seriously and make a real effort to reduce their use of packaging for their products, particularly plastic packaging.

“As well as the proposed ban on single use plastics, Fine Gael in Government is committed to significantly increasing our plastic recycling rate to 55% by 2030. We’re all in this together and if everyone is on board we can significantly reduce plastic waste in Ireland. Online retailers must now play their part.”