Easter egg packaging slashed by a third

7.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Apr 2009

Packaging has been cut drastically this year, but recyclability is also a concern, Jo's annual report on Easter egg packaging shows.

The report compares the packaging of ten Easter eggs with measurements from 2008 and 2007, and concludes that several manufacturers have reduced their packaging, although more could be done to cut it back even further. Companies reduced the weight of their packaging by an average of 33.5% on last year. Significant improvements have also been made in the amount of environmental information provided on the packaging. However, in some cases packaging has been reduced at the expense of keeping it recyclable.

The Lindt Easter egg was the worst performer for the third year running, having made no significant changes to its packaging at all, with the egg still taking up only 9% of its box. The company who showed the most improvement since 2008 was Nestlé, while the packaging for Terry's eggs actually increased. Eggs produced by Sainsbury's, Terry's, Cadbury and Green & Black's eggs all produce no landfill waste.

Commenting, said:

"While it is encouraging that the amount of packaging used for Easter eggs has gone down, they remain one of the most excessively packaged and wasteful products available.

"On average the Easter eggs still take up only 40% of their packaging, so there is still more that can be done to reduce it even more. It is also important to make sure not just that packaging is reduced, but that it is recyclable and that is made clear to consumers.

"The progress that has been made in the past year is encouraging, but manufacturers must go much further."

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Download the full report: Easter Egg Packaging Progress Report 2009