Prime Minister Theresa May has set out steps for a ‘cleaner and greener’ Britain, with avoidable plastic waste eliminated by the end of 2042.

To help achieve this, the Government will extend the 5p carrier bag charge to all retailers in England; it will also encourage supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles.

Furthermore, to encourage industry to take more responsibility for the environmental impacts of products and make them easier to recycle, the Government will look at how the tax system or charges could further reduce the amount of waste we create, with a ‘call for evidence’ (beginning next month) on how to reduce the amount of single-use plastics.

It will also inject new funding into plastics innovation from its £7 billion R&D ‘pot’ (it is estimated that 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s, and research indicates that without urgent action to cut demand, it is likely that 34 billion tonnes will have been produced by 2050).

Mrs May said: “We look back in horror at some of the damage done to our environment in the past and wonder how anyone could have thought that, for example, dumping toxic chemicals into rivers untreated was ever the right thing to do.

“In years to come, I think people will be shocked at how today we allow so much plastic to be produced needlessly.

“I can confirm that the UK will demonstrate global leadership. We must reduce the demand for plastic and improve our recycling rates.

“To achieve these aims, we will take action at every stage of the production and consumption of plastic.

“Demonstrating global leadership, the UK will also do more to help developing nations tackle pollution and reduce plastic waste, including through UK aid.”