Wasteful packaging of consumer products is a serious environmental threat, according to trading standards services across the north of England.

Trading standards officer Richard Flinton with some examples of what is considered wasteful packaging

A survey has been compiled by the Northern Counties Trading Standards Group, which includes North Yorkshire. Tests on 105 products showed that only nine made efficient use of resources in terms of packaging. Two thirds of all the products were found to have 50 per cent or more packaging than was actually required for the product.

A total of 15 packs were found to contain twice the amount of packaging than would have adequately contained the product.

Gordon Gresty, secretary of the trading standards northern counties group, said: "The wasteful use of precious resources is one of the most serious problems we face today. Global warming is one consequence of such inefficient and wasteful practices.

"This survey has revealed some extremely worrying results which show that a large majority of businesses are not carrying out their obligations to ensure that they take every step possible to minimise the use of material in packaging."

For the first time trading standards services across the country have been given powers to demand that all packaging should be kept to a minimum to ensure efficient use of resources.

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998 make it an offence for any importer or manufacturer to use an excessive amount of packaging.

Mr Gresty said: "Businesses have been aware of these requirements for more than a year and should have taken steps to ensure they meet the requirements of these regulations. I hope that businesses will take note of this survey and now address the issue.

"If the problems persist, trading standards services will take enforcement action to ensure that resources used in packaging are used efficiently."

see NEWS 'Pack in conning us'

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