South West Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has welcomed European Parliament backing for a Green initiative which aims to extend the life of consumer products.

She said: ‘Our seas are awash with plastic and incinerators are mushrooming around the South West – just two very obvious signs of our throw-away society.

‘I am delighted therefore that, by a large majority, MEPs have backed a Green initiative challenging ‘planned obsolescence’ – the deliberate policy used by manufacturers to create consumer goods that rapidly become obsolete and so require replacing.

‘We can no longer ignore the environmental, social and health consequences of this damaging attitude.