This year Marks & Spencer will reduce packaging across its whole Easter product range by almost 20% - over 20 tonnes.

M&S has tackled packaging reduction across all Easter products - not just boxed eggs but also the more challenging areas including plastic wrapped confectionery which includes the hollow character shapes such as the Myrtle Moo range. The best example of this is the M&S Organic Easter egg (pictured), which not only now looks even better but has also had a 75% reduction in packaging weight.

Helene Roberts, Marks & Spencer’s Head of Packaging says: “We have worked really hard to reduce the packaging on our Easter range whilst maintaining a fabulous looking product – we understand that our customers still want to buy beautiful looking gifts, just with less packaging and we are making it easy for them to do this. We are hugely proud of what we have achieved across our whole Easter range – the weight reduction is the equivalent to four adult elephants!”

This has been achieved by reducing the physical size and thickness of the packaging, as well as eliminating some packaging elements altogether. For example, with the Organic Easter egg (pictured), removing the plastic window and replacing it with a cut-out cardboard design which is easier to recycle, removing the plastic former altogether and redesigning the plastic tray to hold the chocolates inside the egg.

As part of Plan A, M&S is committed to a total reduction of 25% on all food packaging, as well as using sustainable raw materials where possible.  For example, over 90% of M&S Easter eggs and chocolate confectionery are packaged using cardboard from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited forests. Over 70% of the plastic used for all Easter packaging has a minimum of 50% recycled content, sourced from post-consumer waste.

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Jo Pinate  Food Press Officer   020 8718 3684
Liz Williams  Food PR Manager    020 8718 6369

Notes to Editors:

Since M&S announced its Plan A campaign in January 2007 the retailer has…

• Removed the packaging on over 250 product lines, an annual saving of over 1400 tonnes of packaging.
• Changed Italian range ready meal packaging to foamed CPET Plastic.  20% less material in every pack and over 150 tonnes of material saved to date.
• Introduced innovative new sealing technology on salad bags. Saving over 7 tonnes of plastic.
• Over 300 tonnes a year less plastic used by having replaced its plastic sandwich skillet with a FSC accredited cardboard version.
• Removal of the plastic lid from olives, saving 14 tonnes of plastic a year.
• Reduced the thickness of PET still water bottles, saving over 160 tonnes of plastic a year.
• Continued use of recycled plastic in PET bottles and PET containers.  Increasing the amount used to 50%.

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