5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs: The Food and Drink Industry

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:52 pm on 23 January 2018.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:52, 23 January 2018

I thank Joyce Watson for her very pertinent questions around the use of plastic and packaging. I think you're right, the time is now. I think people are really interested in this, and, obviously, with my colleague Hannah Blythyn, the Minister for Environment, we will be bringing forward the waste strategy for Wales, looking at food waste reduction as well, because I think that's also—. At the moment, I don't think people realise the amount of food that they throw out, and I think we've got an opportunity there to reduce the amount of food that we do waste. I think we have to. People are struggling financially, there are lots of opportunities to both minimise and prevent waste and save money.

Work has begun to look at how food packaging waste can be reduced, and we do know that plastic, in particular, is a major problem. I think we need to have that discussion with supermarkets—I know exactly what you mean about the single-use plastic bags that are alongside produce—to try and reduce the numbers that they use. The plastic straws initiative is so simple, but it's so important. When I was out in Dubai last year at Gulfood, I visited a factory that was making plastic straws. It was horrific to see the number that was coming out, and it was just incredible. So, just small things like changing from plastic to paper—because we know people want to use straws—could save so much.

So, as I say, this is a piece of work that will be taken forward by the Minister for Environment, which I will obviously support her with. I'm very happy to have conversations with her to try and reduce food waste as well, because I think it's really important that we do both, side by side.