Single-Use Disposable Beverage Cups Charge Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environmental Report

‘…it would perhaps be useful to expand the environmental objectives to consider enhancement and maximisation of environmental benefits as well as protection.’

Environmental objectives expanded to include maximising opportunities for environmental benefit and enhancement of the natural environment. Wording of some objectives was amended, and an additional objective inserted under Material Assets.

0 Environmental Objectives

‘We strongly support the inclusion of PPS such as the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and NPF4. The reference to NPF4 sits under Landscape and Visual Impacts and whilst NPF4 does put the natural environment at the forefront, it would be useful to clarify if NPF4 will also be considered in relation to the other SEA topics, for example Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Acknowledgement of the impact of the Fourth National Planning Framework on climatic factors and biodiversity included in the consideration of related PPS.

4 Environmental Baseline and Related PPS

‘Using a topic-by-topic approach, along with SEA objectives, to assess the environmental impacts is supported. The consideration of secondary, cumulative, and synergistic effects is also welcomed here.’

Proposed approach was retained, including the consideration of secondary, cumulative, and synergistic effects.

5 Assessment of likely environmental impacts and

0 Cumulative impacts

‘We agree with the proposed scope of the assessment and are satisfied that there are no reasonable alternatives. It is noted that the assessment will be undertaken on a topic-by-topic basis we are content with this approach. We welcome the proposals to identify strategies to maximise environmental benefits as part of the assessment process.’

The scope of environmental topics to be assessed was retained, and the assessment proceeded on the basis of no reasonable alternatives (i.e. assessing against a business-as-usual baseline).

0 Scope of the assessment and 0 Consideration of reasonable alternatives

‘… we agreed that significant effects on the historic environment as a result of the proposal were unlikely. We therefore note that the historic environment has been scoped out of the assessment. Therefore, on the basis of the information provided, we are content with this approach and are satisfied with the scope and level of detail proposed for the assessment.’

Cultural heritage and the historic environment remains scoped out of the assessment.

0 Scope of the assessment