Firms urged to slash waste

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

David Cameron will unveil the environmental measure as part of a push to encourage businesses to be more socially responsible.

The party leader believes voluntary agreements will be more effective than regulation in securing measures designed to protect consumers and the environment.

And he has tasked ex-Asda boss and former Tory MP Archie Norman with bringing together bosses to find ways to cut the 330 million tonnes of waste produced in the UK each year.

Mr Cameron praised the efforts of retail giants Tesco and Marks and Spencer but said too many others were failing to act.

"What you should be doing as a government is trying to get business to face up to its responsibilities and behave responsibly and if that doesn't work then there is always the threat of regulation and legislation at the end of it. But I think it's much stronger if you try to get business to accept their responsibilities, which they're not doing," he told the BBC.

"Take climate change. Marks & Spencer and Tesco and others are doing more than the government is asking them to because they think it's actually good for them and good for their business, good for their customers and the rest of it.

"So don't think that business is just out to make money and doesn't care about its responsibilities, it does. And we really are beginning to see that."

Mr Cameron has regularly railed against "ruthless marketers and shameless retailers" who target children with inappropriate products.

And the party hopes to strike the "responsibility deals" on a range of issues.