The petition, which had been signed by more than 5,000 people, was finally debated in parliament. The petitioners predominantly called for a different system entirely and gave an impassioned plea for Luxembourg to actively reduce its amount of plastic packaging. The petitioners called for society, producers, and businesses to react to this challenge.
The petition on the Chamber of Deputies' website was preceded by another on a different platform. The earlier petition on change.org was signed by more than 14,000 people.
The Minister of the Environment, Carole Dieschbourg, conceded to the young activists that there is a sense of urgency in dealing with this issue and acknowledged that more must be done. She explained that Luxembourg is giving itself ambitious goals and she has also been calling for changes within the system.
One example highlighted by Dieschbourg as requiring change is the use of biodegradable plastic, which is not a long-term solution. Instead, Dieschbourg is adamant that consistent alternatives are required.
Dieschbourg went into detail on measures she hopes to introduce, outlining her ambition of presenting the 'Zero-Waste-Luxembourg' strategy by the summer. Speaking for the government, the minister explained that political will is insufficient and the strategy requires the collaboration of all actors involved in plastic production.
In the summer, the government will launch a pilot project of cloth bags to weigh fruit and vegetables, which is already optional in some supermarkets. The Ecobox initiative, which allows customers to request a reusable takeaway box at partner establishments, will be extended. At the beginning, six restaurants took part. Now, 64 are participating.
As the debate ended, the petitioners expressed their satisfaction. The minister invited them to work in task forces to ensure progress.
MPs at large appeared to agree that more must be done to tackle excessive plastic packaging, as the president of the parliamentary commission on petitions, Nancy Arendt, explained. A larger commission will be formed under the direction of the environment commission, including delegates from the Ministries of the Economy, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and Home Affairs. The commission will then work on a report and request a further debate in parliament.
Finally, MPs hope to vote on a resolution or motion to comply with the petition's reason for being.
