Tory group moots junk food trading
Tories suggest how firms can be socially responsible
Monday, 15, Jan 2007 12:00
Firms producing salty, fatty and sugary foods could be allocated junk food quotas to get them to switch to healthier options, a Conservative party working group has proposed.
The scheme would operate in a similar way to the European Union emissions trading scheme (ETS), where firms are allocated quotas of pollutants which they can buy or sell depending on how much carbon dioxide they emit.
Under this social pollutant scheme, the production of junk food could be limited for each firm in a bid to cut rising obesity rates. If they used up more than their quota, they would have to buy more credits – if less, they could sell credits on to make money.
Similar alcohol quotas could also be issued as part of the drive to tackle binge drinking, the working group report says, arguing: "In this case, companies who lowered the alcohol content of their products would have a significant incentive."
The idea is used as an illustration of how business could operate in David Cameron's much-vaunted world of "social responsibility", where government takes a step back from interfering in people's lives, and civil society – including business – steps into the gap.
In a Tory conference on the issue today, the party leader said this approach of rolling back the state and rolling forward society was at the heart of every one of his policies.
"Rather than thinking, in every instance, what can the state do about this or that issue, we'll be thinking, what can society do?" he told the conference.
"Rather than approaching every issue with an open chequebook from the taxpayer and a new regulation, we'll approach every issue with the expectation that, in the first instance at least, responsibility lies with the people."
Today's working group report sets out recommendations on how business can help improve society within this framework, and argues that any attempt to involve firms must be voluntary and not decided by Whitehall.
"Instead of a top-down, bureaucratic approach which tells business what to do, a Conservative government would invite companies and/or business sectors to develop their own responses to mutually agreed social and environmental challenges," it says.
In return, firms would be rewarded with a lighter regulatory burden, not to mention the good reputation they may earn from taking part in certain schemes.
The report was published as retail giant M&S announced plans to become carbon neutral by 2012, from reducing the size of packaging and labelling to help their customers recycle to encouraging staff to live healthier lifestyles.