Much food, particularly in supermarkets, is overpackaged. It is estimated that the energy required to package food is on average around 2/3 of the energy value that can be obtained from the food. We take over 6 million tonnes of packaging into our homes every year.

Packaging not only increases production and transport costs, but it needs to be disposed of as well. This in turn can add to landfill (around 2 million tonnes a year).

Of course, not all packaging is bad: it can help keep products uncontaminated and to stay fresh longer, reducing waste. It can reduce damage during transit.

To help reduce unnecessary packaging:

• do not buy packaged products when there is an unpackaged alternative – never buy shrink-wrapped vegetables and fruit

• deliberately choose products with less packaging

• leave unnecessary packaging at the supermarket checkout

• avoid products where individual portions are separately wrapped

• buy bigger sizes (with proportionately less packaging per kilogram/litre)

• where packaging is required, choose bio-degradable (e.g. cellophane)

• plastic bags are packaging – it is no longer un-cool to carry a shopping bag, some are regarded as essential style accessories

• check if your packaging is compostable before you throw it away

• recycle rather than bin it, but think what else you can do with it first

• buy refill packs where possible

• use glass bottles rather than plastic

For information on specific types of packaging, see Packaging & Plastics.