Supermarket replaces oxo-biodegradable additive bags and says new bags will use 15 per cent recycled material
By Jessica Shankleman
Fresh doubts have been raised over the future of biodegradable plastics after Tesco decided to drop the use of a controversial additive which helps its carrier bags break down.
The supermarket giant told BusinessGreen that it has halted use of oxo-biodegradable additives (OBD) in its bags following concerns over the strength of the bags and their potential environmental impact.
A Defra-backed study cast doubt over the impact of degradable bags last year, suggesting they could be doing more environmental harm than good.
A Tesco spokeswoman said the decision to stop using OBD bags was implemented in February after a review of the specification of its carrier bags.
“We took the decision to remove the biodegradable additive because we believed it contributed towards them becoming weaker… and to help better promote their reuse and recycling at end of life,” she said.
“This decision was underpinned by a detailed review of the science, using external experts to help us understand the full life-cycle environmental impacts of our carrier bags.”
New Tesco bags are not biodegradable, but instead contain 15 per cent recycled material.
The independent National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials (NNFCC), which has been lobbying Tesco to drop OBD bags, this week welcomed confirmation of the decision.
“We’ve been putting pressure on the supply chain for several years to consider the negative impacts of oxo-biodegradable bags and move to more environmentally friendly alternatives,” said Dr John Williams, head of materials at the NNFCC.
He added that the NNFCC is now seeking to promote “sensible and certified routes” to encourage reuse, recycling and safe disposal of plastic bags. “Artificially accelerating the degradation of an oil-based plastic is neither economically or environmentally sensible,” he said.
Supermarkets have come under increasing pressure to reduce the number of bags they hand out to customers after research from the Waste and Resources Action Programme revealed that a voluntary commitment by supermarkets to cut the number of bags they distribute has stalled.
Recycling minister Lord Henley said that the government is now considering forcing retailers to act, while the Daily Mail has reignited its high-profile campaign to ban plastic bags.
Tesco’s decision follows research carried out for Defra that concluded degradability would depend on the conditions the bag experienced after use.
The Co-operative ceased using OBD in its carrier bags following the Defra study, but Tesco continued to use them,  handing out more than two billion oxo biodegradable bags to customers last year before halting their distribution earlier this year.
However, Defra’s report has been challenged by the OBD plastics industry, which accused the researchers of failing to talk to manufacturers of the material and ignoring some of the environmental benefits associated with the plastic.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of London’s office has downplayed reports that Mayor Boris Johnson is considering banning or charging for plastic bags in the capital ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
A report in the Daily Mail earlier this month suggested Johnson wants to take action following the failure of retailers to cut the number of bags they hand out.
The paper said he is mulling a scheme that would be modeled on Welsh plans to implement a 5p-per-bag charge with the proceeds going directly to good causes.
But a spokeswoman from the Mayor’s office said London has no powers to introduce such a charging scheme.
“We are planning a renewed campaign to help do so ahead of 2012 when the eyes of the world are on us,” said Johnson in a statement. “Whilst London doesn’t have the powers to implement bans or charges, I am keenly following Wales’ efforts to solve this problem.”
(Source: www.businessgreen.com )