Question reference: S6W-09639
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 7 July 2022
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Current status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 4 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration has been given to removing plastic bottles from sale in the Scottish Parliament canteen, and switching to more sustainable packaging choices for soft drinks.
Answer
Although single use plastic bottles are not part of the recent Single Use Plastics Ban in Scotland, we are actively exploring with our supplier (Sodexo) on how to remove or reduce plastic bottles from sale within the canteen and other catering outlets at Holyrood. We have asked for a full impact assessment of alternative products to establish if alternative products will deliver a reduced overall carbon footprint and hope to have received this by the end of September. We are also anticipating the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland and provided we still use plastic bottles or cans by next summer, will seek to have a reverse vending machine at Holyrood.