What has been done so far?

These contain less water so can reduce packaging by over 50%. Fewer vehicles are needed to transport them too, as more containers can be fitted into the same space.  Also, they are much lighter and easier to carry home. Examples are found in fabric conditioners such as Lenor, Comfort and Persil’s ‘Small & Mighty’, King of Shaves shaving oil, Sanex deodorant and Tesco concentrated squash.  To get the best value from these please remember to use the right dosage.

Recycled plastic is now starting to be used for a range of bottles for drinks, milk and shampoo and some of them are using 100% recycled content.  It is also being used for pre-prepared salads. Brands you might recognise are Ribena, Innocent Drinks, Boots and Marks & Spencer (M&S).  Plastic bottles are already quite light, but Coca-Cola and Harrogate Spa have reduced the weight even more.  Another initiative has been made by M&S who are using less plastic in their salad bags, which also provides a better seal.

A variety of brands are using lighter wine, beer and spirits bottles and food jars.  Look out for brands such as Four Crossings and Ventisquero Clasico wine, Adnams Beer, Grolsch, Coca-Cola, The Co-operatives Scotch Whisky, Uncle Ben’s ‘Around the World’ sauces and other food items and see if you notice the difference. It isn’t easy - will you notice if a jar or bottle is 6% lighter? – Probably not, but some are now stating this on their labels and others are over 30% lighter.  Read our Top Tips on packaging to find out more.

Design innovation and using less material in the manufacture of cans saves considerable amounts of energy and is widely undertaken throughout the industry. Heinz is just one company among many who has lighweighted its cans and now uses less steel in the lid, The design makes them easier to open and uses 10% less material.  Some manufacturers are beginning to use ‘printed’ cans with no need for labels at all. 

Did you know that a 33cl soft drinks can weighs on average 31% less than it did in 1980.

There is a limited product range for refills but they have been available for some time.  However few people think about using them or even realise that they could be saving money as refills are cheaper than buying the original product.  And in some cases refills can reduce the amount of packaging being used by up to 75%.  The more we use refills the more likely it is that manufacturers will increase the range.  Radox hand-wash and Kenco coffee pouches are examples of some of the products you can buy.

A good example of a quick solution to reducing packaging is The Co-operative's Tomato Puree product.  By simply removing the cardboard box from around the tube and placing the tubes upright, directly into the display packaging - they sit easily on supermarket shelves and this reduces packaging by 35%.  Why can't tubes of toothpaste do the same?