Shoppers urged not to demonise packaging

10-Feb-2014 - Last updated on 19-Aug-2020 at 08:32 GMT

Related tags Packaging

Consumers should not demonise food packaging, because it could prolong shelf-life, reducing the amount of products needlessly binned, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

In this exclusive podcast, Andy Dawe, head of WRAP’s food and drink programme, told FoodManufacture.co.uk the drive to cut packaging waste had led some consumers to see packaging as the enemy.

Advances in packaging technology

However, it was still preferable to retain food packaging for many products, especially now advances in packaging technology allowed the minimum to be used to maximum effect, he said.

He was speaking at the Love Food Hate Waste conference, which WRAP helped organise in London last week. Delegates at the event were urged by WRAP ceo Liz Goodwin to step up efforts to slash food waste.

Dawe also explained more about WRAP’s plans to work with the food industry in 2014.

These include workshops with stakeholder groups, the first of which is scheduled for February 26 in London, and a campaign across 10 UK cities to raise consumer awareness about waste prevention.