// Environmental campaigners & customers criticise Boots’ use of plastic packaging
// Boots signed up to reduced plastic packaging program UK Plastics Pact last year
// Greenpeace says it will discuss the issue with Boots
// Boots says it has reduced the amount of plastic in its Christmas ranges by 164 tonnes & in its food range by 16 tonnes
Boots has been criticised for its use of plastic bags in packaging customers’ prescriptions at its pharmacy division.
The health and beauty retailer has been condemned by environmental campaigners as well as customers.
Boots had signed up to reduced plastic packaging program UK Plastics Pact last year, and the decision to continue using plastic packaging for prescriptions puzzled plastic waste campaigners.
Greenpeace said it would discuss the issue with Boots, with head of plastics campaign Louise Edge saying that recent international reports made clear the “catastrophic implications of single-use plastic for both the climate and human health”.
She also accused Boots of displaying “not only corporate incompetence, but a complete disinterest in upholding promises made to their loyal customers”.
Many Boots customers expressed their concern over the plastic bag packaging, according to BBC News.
Boots said it needed to use plastic packaging on those orders processed at a centralised pharmacy because the material is durable.
“Greenpeace is calling on the UK government to set new legally-binding targets to reduce single use plastic production in the forthcoming environment bill,” Edge said.
“Only this will ensure that corporations like Boots put their plastic pledges into action.”
Many campaigners and customers took to social media to criticise the chain.
. @BootsUK ignores #environmental guidance and gives customers #plastic prescription bags instead of paper. Outright contempt for #plasticspact and consumer sentiment. @BootsUK execs should be deeply ashamed and switch back immediately https://t.co/FW0EO9kDWZ
— A Plastic Planet (@aplastic_planet) May 17, 2019
Seriously, @BootsUK? Turning from paper to plastic to save costs is not an acceptable way to run a business these days. Your customers are rightly livid and baffled. Sort this out please.https://t.co/K0NKIzLHIn
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) May 17, 2019
Boots signed the UK Plastics Pact last year & said they were "committed to reducing single-use plastic.” Now going to use plastic not paper bags as it costs less. You can’t put a price on saving the planet. Time to invest in the future not the past. https://t.co/ht1SUnRu7V
— Bill Esterson (@Bill_Esterson) May 17, 2019
Anger at Boots' plastic prescription bags https://t.co/8tFcbeROL9 pic.twitter.com/W4iwER4iQD
— BBC East Midlands (@bbcemt) May 17, 2019
On Friday, Boots said it reduced the amount of plastic in its Christmas ranges by 164 tonnes and in its food range by 16 tonnes.
“On bags in particular, we expect to announce further measures that will reduce our plastic usage dramatically in the coming weeks,” the retailer said.
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