Pafa chairman Barry Turner and the association’s PR consultant Peter Woodall weighed in with arguments challenging the hysteria generated by the Daily Mail and other organisations.

Turner pointed out that only 6% of carrier bags are used just once and that bags constitute less than 1% of all litter on land and just 2% of beach detritus. He added that the average environmental cost of one car journey to the supermarket is equivalent to a family’s yearly consumption of plastic bags.

Turner reserved particular ire for the sudden involvement of prime minister Gordon Brown in the carrier bag argument, just when the ambitious voluntary agreement with retailers was beginning to bear fruit. This reported a 43% rise in supermarket recycling points and a 14% reduction in environmental impact.

Attacks on the industry have necessitated more than 1000 press interviews and statements, the Pact (Plastics for a Cleaner Tomorrow) audience heard.

Turner told the Pact meeting: “We will continue to battle - we have lots to be proud about in this industry.”

On a positive note, he disclosed that the Climate Change Levy agreement with Defra has already generated a £2m plus reduction in energy costs covering the 51 production sites operated by members of the scheme, allowing an 80% levy rebate.