On a local parenting  social media group, I saw a post asking what everyone does with the plastic syringes that come with bottles of infant paracetamol suspension and other children's medicines. A few parents use them for water play or arts and crafts but many put them in the recycling, 'hoping they will be recycled'. I happen to know that our local council (and many others, I'm sure) don't recycle that sort of plastic. While a few parents said they tend to lose theirs so needed a new syringe or spoon with every bottle, most of us agreed that we end up with far to many of them and don't really know what to do with them!

We would like to ask Johnson and Johnson (producers of Calpol, Six Plus etc.), Boots and all other producers of medicines to think about the environment and stop providing a plastic syringe or spoon in every packet.

So what about the people who lose theirs or are buying medicine for the first time so need a syringe or spoon? Syringes and spoons could be sold for a small fee wherever bottles of over-the-counter medicine are sold. They could even be provided free of charge - even if there are extra packaging costs (recyclable paper packaging - please!), these will be covered by producing far fewer syringes and spoons.

And importantly, the costs to the environment will be be greatly reduced, helping to secure the future of this wonderful planet for our children.