CAMPAIGNERS including Otley’s MP are calling on Sainsbury’s to do more to tackle plastic waste.

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) and Town Councillor Mick Bradley (Green, Danefield) were part of a group who protested outside the company’s Otley store on Saturday, May 18.

The move followed public criticism of Sainsbury’s by Greenpeace after the environmental group compared what the country’s supermarkets were each doing to reduce plastic packaging.

Campaigners at the demonstration asked shoppers to remove any unnecessary packaging from their groceries as they were coming out of the store - and quickly filled several trollies with plastic.

Shannon Coles, who organised the protest, said: “The fact that we filled two trollies with discarded plastic in such a short time shows just how bad the problem is. Sainsbury’s needs to step up and match the promises made by other supermarkets.

“Asda reduced plastic waste by 6,500 tonnes last year which shows what can be done when the will is there.”

Mr Sobel said: “More and more people are aware of the impact plastics are having on oceans and our wildlife and know that changes have to be made. Lots of us are making the conscious decision to cut down on our own plastic use, but without corporate action we’re fighting a losing battle.

“It’s time for companies like Sainsbury’s to step up to the challenge and join consumers in taking responsibility for the health of our planet.”

Children from the local Woodcraft Folk group handed in drawings, showing the impact of plastic on sea life, to the Otley store at the protest and a petition was also presented.

Cllr Bradley said: “The public overwhelmingly want the use of plastic food wrapping to be drastically reduced and the supermarkets can all play a responsible role in doing this quickly.”

Sainsbury’s referred the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer to a statement it released earlier this year on the subject. It said: “Sainsbury’s will end the use of dark coloured plastics (which are difficult to recycle) across fresh foods by the end of 2019 and entirely by March, 2020 as well as remove all plastic packaging from Christmas crackers this year.

“Sainsbury’s will also introduce a trial scheme for customers to ‘pre-cycle’, by providing an area for customers to remove unwanted primary and secondary packaging in store and leave it for recycling.

“Sainsbury’s has previously implemented measures that are already leading to a reduction of 8,101 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic and use of ‘virgin plastic’ every year.

“Over the next twelve months, Sainsbury’s will remove a further 1,280 tonnes of plastic from products and ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.”