Public blasts supermarkets over stalling action on plastic waste

Research from campaigners Nature 2030 has revealed public anger at supermarkets “turning a blind eye” to mountains of plastic waste.

78% say they still use too much single-use plastic, with 69% arguing the big chains put profits before reducing their environmental footprint.

Nature 2030 says UK supermarkets are estimated to generate 30 billion pieces of unnecessary plastic waste each year, with them faring worse than those in France, Germany and Spain. Government figures suggest more than 12 billion single-use plastic bottles were sold across the UK last year, creating vast amounts of waste that isn’t recycled.

In addition, half of Brits worry about the health impact of plastic. A similar number (49%) say they are more likely to shop at supermarkets which stamp out single-use plastic altogether.

With growing public concern, the failure of supermarkets to reduce their reliance on plastic packaging has faced increasing scrutiny.

A recent study by the Environmental Investigation Agency found that 70% of soft plastic collected through Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s take-back schemes was incinerated, rather than recycled.

Many European countries have introduced deposit return schemes (DRS) to encourage the recycling of single-use drinks containers, where a small refundable deposit is charged.

Earlier in 2025, representatives of major UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Lidl and Asda, demanded a delay to the UK’s DRS due to come into force in October 2027.

Last week, ministers appointed an industry-led management body to administer the DRS, alongside bosses from Lidl, Co-Op and Tesco.

Environmental campaigners have blasted the announcement, suggesting supermarkets are being left to “mark their own homework” and prioritise profits over the planet.

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet and the Plastic Health Council, said: “Britain’s plastic crisis can no longer be ignored. Supermarkets are turning a blind eye to the mountains of waste they produce each year, and they will not clean up their act alone - ministers must legislate.

“While the Government is taking action to boost the recycling single-use bottles though a DRS, this is a drop in the ocean. Plastic production is set to rise exponentially, and beverage containers are a fraction of plastic waste. If we’re to see any real change, wholesale reduction in the production of plastic is desperately needed for the health of not only the planet but our bodies.”

Polly Billington (left), Labour MP for East Thanet and Commons Net Zero Committee member, added: “For too long, we’ve acknowledged the plastic crisis without taking meaningful steps to address it.

”The DRS is a start, but we need comprehensive change from businesses to drive genuine reduction in plastic production.”

“The DRS is a start, but we need comprehensive change from businesses to drive genuine reduction in plastic production, not just recycling targets that mask the true scale of the problem.”

Dominic Dyer, the chair of Nature 2030, added: “With the biggest high street retailers now sitting on the board of Britian’s recycling scheme for single-use bottles, there are serious concerns about whether they will put profits before environmental protection.

“Why should billion-pound companies be deciding our environmental laws when their track record shows they are clearly cannot be trusted?”

For more information on the upcoming DRS in the UK, and what it means for your store, read our story here.