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United Biscuits (UB) is aiming for zero landfill waste and a total packaging weight reduction of 20% by 2015.

The manufacturer of biscuits and snacks, such as McVitie's Jaffa Cakes, said it already recycled 97% of food waste and would keep ingredients thrown away to a minimum and recycle any waste as animal feed.

UB also recycles more than 60% of non-food waste across its 11 UK sites and said it aimed to reduce overall non-food waste by 10% year-on-year.

The firm would not comment on wider waste infrastructure issues, such as creating energy from waste.

UB said it had already reduced packaging by 7% (6,800 tonnes) since 2003 and more than 80% by weight of all packaging is recyclable. It declined to break down this figure into material components.

More than 90% of the cardboard UB uses is recycled board.

Some products, such as McVitie's Minis, come in individual packs and the multipack outer wrapping has been reduced in size.

UB said it was developing with a supplier a new film that weighs 17% less than current films, reducing the total packaging used for snacks.

It is also starting to use simple symbols on recyclable packs to help consumers recycle, reuse or compost their waste.

The firm said it would work with retailers towards a co-ordinated and consistent labelling scheme for the consumer and supported the Waste and Resources Action Programme's on-pack recycling label.

UB's brands include Penguin, Twiglets, Hula Hoops and KP Nuts.

Chief operating officer Jeff van der Eems said the firm would consider "every use of resource" and make "sustainable choices".

The firm has set out its aims in Achieving sustainability, which includes targets and progress made so far in six key areas of emissions, waste, water, packaging, transport and sustainable sourcing.