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Packaging's ability to reduce food waste will be a key component of a new campaign from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) launching in November.

Chief executive Liz Goodwin said the consumer-facing campaign would focus on encouraging customers to buy "the right amounts".

Wrap will also team up with retailers, local authorities and community groups to address issues such as resealable packaging and portion sizes.

Goodwin said packaging had "an important role to play in keeping food in the right state for householders".

Wrap is already working with the Food Standards Agency to highlight 'best before' and 'use by' dates.

In March, Wrap revealed that UK households throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food waste each year.

Tackling food waste was one of four priorities for 2008 – alongside recyclates, collections and management of mixed plastics – laid out by Wrap at an open meeting last month.

Wrap's objectives drew praise from Packaging Federation chief executive Dick Searle, who said the organisation was adopting a more balanced approach to packaging.

He said: "The last piece of the jigsaw now is to get consumers to understand where the real problems are."