Welcome the Take it back microsite. We are a group of people whose aim it is to reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging foisted on us by supermarkets - through campaigning, direct action and other events. Our aim is to make supermarkets realise we don’t need and don’t want non-recyclable packaging and want all packaging kept to a minimum. To help you we have a standard letter available for you to download here and send to your local supermarket encouraging them to consider the use of excessive packaging and its environmental effects.
Lots of people agree. 522 people have completed the survey opposite so far.

394 want minimum packaging
423 want their fruit and veg only wrapped in recyclable or bio-degradable wrapping
512 only want recyclable or bio-degradable trays for wrapped food
415 don’t want any goods to be ‘double wrapped’
394 want ‘bags for life’, not free carrier bags

You can add your voice and take your own action now. Help us reach 1000 replies.
And how about joining us on our Day of Action - Saturday 18th March 2006? Sign up for information updates and we’ll send details through. We will be presenting a giant 'trophy' made of rubbish to the 'winning' supermarket!

Shocking Facts!
Did you know-in the UK we throw away 434 million tonnes of rubbish each year- that’s our own body weight every 6 weeks!
Most of this waste comes from retail packaging with supermarkets the main culprits, including giving away the equivalent of 290 carrier bags a year to everyone of us. It’s what they believe we want! And in Brighton & Hove the council say they can’t recycle all the plastic bags we give them- or other packaging, like tetra packs.
In fact, reducing waste is far preferable to re-cycling. Last year UK companies illegally foisted our recyclables on developing countries [Guardian 21.12.2005].
Our local target for recycling is 30% of household waste in 2005/6- less than St Edmondsbury, Suffolk where 50% was recycled last year. And, even when we do recycle this uses energy and resources we really need to conserve and adds even more air pollutants from road transport. In this city sorting, sifting and shifting all our rubbish will mean more than 400 HGVs across town everyday.
And what about the rest of our rubbish? 33 of the largest vehicles on European roads will bring 1000 tonnes of non-recyclable rubbish a day to be incinerated in Newhaven, creating toxic fumes and toxic ash that will never go away, polluting the whole of the south coast area.
The National Waste Strategy says that the key is REDUCING waste- not just recycling and re-using.
Some supermarkets have agreed to reduce waste by 2010 and have signed up to the Courtauld Agreement but landfill sites will fill up by 2008. But this is too late! Also, can we really rely on big business to reduce waste for us whilst there is money to be made from it?
 
Brighton & Hove Council don’t think so – they are planning for increasing waste above national average levels until 2015, at least.
We can do better than this…………!
We can REDUCE waste.
We can ask supermarkets to give us less non-recyclable packaging

 

Fill in the questionaire - lets tell them what we want!

Back to Take It Back

Supermarket Packaging Questionaire

Thanks for taking the time to fill in our survey. The results of which will be taken to tell supermarkets how many people we interviewed and why they are unhappy about the excess packaging used. If you do not want us to use your name and contact details for further information and campaign details please state in the box below.

Name:
Address:(Please include postcode)
E-mail address:

Q1: Tell us which supermarkets you use (tick which apply)

Asda
Co-Op
Sainsburys
Somerfield
Tesco
Waitrose
Other - Please state which below
 

Q2: If you dont use supermarkets is it beacause....?

I want less packaging
I want local produce
Other - Please state which below
 

Q3: Do you want....?

 
Yes
No
Maybe
Minimum packaging
Recyclable/biodegradable fruit and veg wrapping
e.g. paper bags?
Recyclable/biodegradable trays and boxes for fruit and veg?
Single wrapped goods only
e.g no double wrapping on multi-buys, discount given at the till instead.
Low cost, re-useable ‘bags for life’ instead of free plastic carrier bags?

Q4: Do you wish to be kept informed about the campaign using the details supplied above?

Yes
No

Q5: Do you wish to be entered into our prize draw? (Winners to be announced at our day of action on January 14th 2006 - for a list of prizes - click here)

Yes
No

Click the SUBMIT button below to convert your answers to an e-mail to send to us... Thanks for taking the time to fill out the survey!

This microsite is a forum for concerned parents and local residents who oppose the wasteful packaging methods of supermarkets. We have no official association with any other group or organisation. Take It Back is run entirely by volunteers. We have carefully researched the content of this microsite and every effort has been made to ensure the information provided is accurate. Take It Back shall not be responsible or liable in respect of any errors or omissions. All e-mails sent to the website may be published unless stated. All contents © Take It Back 2005