Environment

The government is to introduce a food system that is "more sustainable economically, socially and environmentally" and a packaging waste management system that does more to encourage waste prevention and recycling.

The plans were revealed in a Cabinet Office report which found that the UK wastes 4.1m tones of food every year.

The report said a new strategy for packaging waste in England would be developed to encourage more prevention of packaging at source that will aim "to get incentives better aligned along the food chain to encourage more prevention of packaging and more re-use and recycling".

It will also aim to improve information flows from manufacturers through retailers, consumers and local authorities to reprocessors.

Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (Incpen) director Jane Bickerstaffe commented: "People need to be encouraged to buy food in packaging that suits their lifestyle as food waste is ten times worse than bulky packaging.

"Consumers should choose food products in appropriate packaging for their needs by buying them in a can or as ready meals that can be frozen and eaten at a later date."

The government said it would also open discussions with food chain businesses on a new voluntary agreement to achieve a net packaging reduction target for 2012 and a new objective to encourage the use of recycled material.

In addition, it will negotiate Courtauld Commitment-type agreements for other business sectors.