Environmental analysis: Green packaging trend to increase

More products are going to use environmentally-friendly packages to cut their carbon footprint, an expert has predicted.

Sam Jarvis, spokesperson for environmental organisation Waste Watch, said: "I think that it is a trend that probably will continue because [green packaging] is much lighter weight to transport and that means that there are fewer carbon emissions."

His comments follow last week's announcement that Marks & Spencer (M&S) has become the first retailer to use plastic packaging for one of its wine bottle ranges instead of glass.

The decision of M&S to convert its mini glass bottles (25 cl) into polyethylene terephthalate will save 525 tonnes of packaging a year.

Mr Jarvis added that it is the reduced amount of energy required to make the packages that has a huge impact on carbon emissions.

M&S's bottles will also be lighter, reducing the carbon footprint in transportation and distribution.

The trend looks set to continue as Waitrose has announced its range of new plastic 75 cl wine bottles to launch at the end of the month.

According to WRAP, a government body which aims to develop sustainable products, about 630,000 tonnes of wine packaging is found in the UK's waste stream.

Posted by Claire Manning