Mike Barry, head of sustainable business at UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), has accused the coalition government of creating uncertainty on green measures for businesses, according to the Guardian.
He said that recent policies had eroded certainty provided by the 2008 Climate Change Act, including the 2010 move to turn a scheme that financially rewarded companies for increasing energy efficiency into a tax.
The coalition also acted last year to cut solar power subsidies by half. Such steps have increased the doubts regarding David Cameron's claims that this would be the 'greenest government ever'.
Barry also urged the government to introduce a plastic bag charge in England, following the lead of Wales, where consumers pay 5p per bag as of last year.
M&S introduced a 5p charge in 2008, leading to a reduction in bag usage of 78 per cent, according to Barry, but he said that further improvement could only come with legislation.
In June, M&S revealed that it had become the first major retailer in the UK to make its operations 'carbon neutral'.
No comments yet