19 March 2008, 13:24 PM
  • A Seasonal Confectionary Industry Working Group co-ordinated by WRAP and made up of confectionery manufacturers is looking to reduce Easter Egg packaging by 25%.

The aim of group is to promote a widespread packaging reduction programme for seasonal confectionery, to identify barriers to packaging reduction and to monitor progress of change.

Members of the collaborative group currently include suppliers such as Mars UK, Cadbury-Trebor-Bassett, Nestle UK, Kraft UK, Magna Specialist Confectioners and WRAP. WRAP said IT will be investigating ways to reduce packaging across medium-sized Easter Eggs with the key objective for members to reduce outer carton packaging overall by a minimum of 25% in weight.

The group, WRAP added, will seek to achieve this aim by working towards standardised external dimensions of the outer carton, which members may voluntarily adopt. Members may also look at other opportunities where an “industry approach is necessary to redesign the outer carton and achieve the packaging reduction.”

Mark Barthel, special advisor for WRAP, said, “Major players in the seasonal confectionery industry have signed up to this group. By joining, they are ensuring that issues relating to packaging are taken into account and that consumer appeal is retained. This in turn will ensure changes can be made across the industry.”

According to WRAP, best-in-class packaging weight data indicates that if all Easter eggs were changed to the current lightest, up to 680 tonnes less packaging material per year would be required. WRAP has said that the progress of the group won’t be seen until 2009 due to “longer lead times in seasonal confectionary.”