Easter eggs: more packaging than chocolate

Martin Hickman, The Independent 9 Apr 09

Easter eggs are 60 per cent packaging, according to new research.

Some manufacturers have reduced their packaging this year, reducing the average weight of eggs by 33 per cent, according to a survey by Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson.

Nestle is the best performer, reducing packaging by 25 per cent on last year. Terry's has increased its packaging.

Swiss chocolatier Lindt had the most excessive packaging, where the chocolate made up only 9 per cent of the volume of the box.

Overall, Ms Swinson - who passed her research to the Independent, which launched a campaign against packaging in 2007 - said Easter eggs were still too profligate of resources.

"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," she said.

“On average the Easter eggs still take up only 40 per cent 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.”

According to the survey of 10 eggs, packaging averaged 84g in 2007 and 82.6g in 2008, but shrank to 45.7g this year.

Several companies are advertising their packaging cuts in their marketing campaigns, suggesting they believe this is important to consumers.This year, Nestlé and Green & Black’s have removed all plastic from their packaging and replaced it with cardboard, which is more widely recycled.