News

Two major retailers are looking into using in-store dispensing as a way to reduce packaging and give consumers more control over the quantities of produce they buy, Packaging News has learned.

The unnamed retailers and a major spirits brand have contacted the Waste & Resources Action Programme about the idea but have not committed to trialling any products.

Their interest follows a WRAP project that ran from late 2005 to early 2006 and looked into different packaging and retailing concepts in 30 markets across the world.

Mark Barthel, WRAP’s special advisor on retail and innovation, said the organisation saw examples of “very sophisticated” self-dispensing systems that “re-imagined” the pick-and-mix concept.

However, UK retailers have largely resisted the idea, according to WRAP chief executive Jennie Price.

The news follows a progress update in November from WRAP on the Courtauld Commitment, the landmark agreement that commits retailers to cut packaging.

Three of the UK’s largest food producers – Heinz, Northern Foods and Unilever – added their signatures to the commitment, which also has the backing of the country’s top 13 grocery retailers, including Tesco and Sainsbury's.

WRAP also highlighted cases where retailers had already cut packaging on certain products.

But environment minister Ben Bradshaw (pictured) said companies could face compulsory regulations to cut packaging waste if they did not voluntarily deliver absolute reductions by 2010, as they have agreed to do under the Courtauld Commitment.

Signatories to the commitment, which has been in place since July 2005, should design out packaging waste growth by 2008, deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by March 2010, and tackle food waste.

Bradshaw said the government would depend for the time being on “open and honest reporting” by companies in their corporate social responsibility programmes to assess progress against the targets.

He also urged consumers to make more use of little-known regulations that allow for the prosecution of companies that produce excessive packaging.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there had been four successful prosecutions so far under the Packaging (Essential Requirements) 2003 regulations.

The most recent came in May 2006, when Burton’s Foods was fined over packaging for Cadbury’s giant chocolate fingers biscuits that was deemed to be excessive.

Meanwhile, WRAP is encouraging brand owners, retailers and packaging designers to apply for a share of its Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund.

The latest round of funding will focus on projects that have potential to deliver big reductions in paper-based packaging that ends up in household bins. Applications must be submitted by 11 December.