The goverment this week urged retailers to cut down on unnecessary packaging, which causes a staggering 35,000 tonnes of waste every year.         Earlier this week Retailers met up with Ben Bradshaw minister for local enviroment to discuss the amount of waste packaging used by supermarkets.  In addition to this the supermarkets outlined their own packaging targets; Asda is aiming for a 10% reduction by 2008 and Sainsbury's are aiming for a 5% cut by 2010.
Packaging waste is becoming costly to remove for local authorities.
The Courtauld Commitment, set up by Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), is to help to reduce packaging and food waste. WRAP are trying to draw major food chains into the scheme. M&S has already signed up to the commitment. Ben Bradshaw and Jennie Price, chief excecutive of WRAP are holding a series of meetings with retailers to change the consumption trends of the public.