TRAVEL RETAIL QUESTION TIME


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‘Be ready for Brexit, whatever the scenario’, ETRC urges industry


In the second interview of the Travel Retail Question Time video series, European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) Secretary General Julie Lassaigne answers questions submitted by members of the DF&TR industry. Luke Barras-Hill rounds up the talking points.


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world are increasingly at the heart of consumer and legislative concerns. “It’s not about what the industry


can do to make a difference, but what it has to do in order to meet the demands from regulators.” She points to the adoption of a


s a reminder to our readers, Travel Retail Question Time is a special, open platform


that allows the industry to pose questions to a leading decision maker. Questions are submitted and voted on with the most popular put to the interviewee while TRBusiness captures it all on camera.


Globally we are facing a wave of consumer and shopper activism against plastic pollution. In travel retail we give away billions of single-use plastic bags and sell billions of plastic water bottles every year. What do you think the travel retail industry can do to effectively respond to the demand for action from travellers and shoppers to do something about this growing issue? Lassaigne began her response by acknowledging that environmental issues in Europe and across the


European Directive that will ban a number of single-use plastic products from 2021 such as plastic straws and cotton buds in the European markets, with specific targets for plastic bottles such as a minimum requirement for their recyclable content. “Definitely things are moving,


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but our retailers and brands are not waiting on legislation. As far as I can see from our retail members, many of them are already supplying reusable bags or advising their staff to ask shoppers if they need a plastic bag at all.” Suppliers have also been working


hard on alternatives to replace plastic packaging, continues Lassaigne. “However, things are slightly different in our supply chain; the duty free and travel retail industry


operates in a very controlled and secure environment and it is our duty to remind policy makers of that.” Raising an important – and


perhaps overlooked – point, Lassaigne points out that current international aviation security standards requires LAGs (liquids, aerosols and gels) purchased in duty free to be placed in STEBs (security tamper evident bags) for transfer passengers, with no alternative to plastic bags at this point in time. “We have to tell policy makers


that we have to change, but we also have to have a proportionate response when it comes to environmental challenges.” [NB: in the weeks before TRBusiness


went to press, the UK Government announced plans for 3D baggage screening technology to be implemented across the country’s major airports by 2022. If delivered, this would be a significant move following years of heightened restrictions involving passengers’ carryings LAGs (liquids, aerosols and gels) in transparent resealable plastic bags following the foiled 2006 terrorist plot to sabotage aircraft on


“As far as I can see from our retail members, many of them are already supplying reusable bags or advising their staff to ask shoppers if they need a plastic bag at all.”


Julie Lassaigne, Secretary General, ETRC


30 TRBUSINESS


This content is for subscribers only. To receive a full digital copy of the October issue,


TRBusiness Deputy Editor Luke Barras-Hill delivers the questions voted for by readers.


OCTOBER 2019


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