The Wakefield MP made the commitment when she spoke to the conference of packaging manufacturers and distributors about reducing waste and increasing waste stream recovery.
Packaging’s role in reducing food waste has already been acknowledged by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and others.
Creagh’s comments were backed by fellow speaker Bob Lisney, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Packaging, who said the technology already exists to effect zero food waste, but recovery infrastructures need to be improved alongside communication.
Mark Pawsey, Conservative MP for Rugby who sat on the FPA conference panel, said improved communications would help understanding of waste as a valuable resource.
The conference was told how investment was being made in the recovery infrastructure with new facilities for processing waste under consideration.
Both Creagh and Pawsey emphasised the benefits of keeping in the UK waste that was previously exported and that the sector had the opportunity to create valuable markets and jobs.
Creagh also said the forthcoming Labour Waste and Resources review paper, due to be published in February, would make the point that resource security was a key issue in the light of the increasing frequency of extreme global weather events.
FPA Chairman Neil Whittall said: “It is increasingly recognised that packaging plays a significant role in fuelling growth in the food and retail sectors.
“As a body we are committed to innovating new packing concepts that meet consumer demand for convenience in sustainable formats.
“The FPA fully supports the work of WRAP and the Hospitality and Food Service Voluntary Agreement and holds a place on the steering committee and is working hard with various bodies to address the issues of lack of national standard waste recovery infrastructure and the lack of facilities available out of the home such as recycling on the go.”