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Asda has reduced the volume of packaging it uses by more 20% since December and expects to reach its target of 25% by the end of the year.

Asda packaging buyer Shane Monkman told Packaging News that the company would give customers more than 40,000 tonnes less waste each year to worry about, which would "make a real difference".

"One of our hero projects was ready meals, where the trading teams used less packaging with little impact on suppliers," he said. "In our meals solutions business, which includes ready meals and food-to-go, we've already reduced packaging by 35%."

He said the supermarket chain had also reduced packaging volumes by 26% in the edible grocery business, which includes products such as cooking sauces, baked beans and pasta, and by 23% in non-edible grocery products such as household and cleaning products.

Monkman added that it would still be "difficult and tough" for Asda to reach its 25% packaging reduction goal but he was confident that the company could achieve it.

The supermarket chain has also applied the BRC/WRAP on-pack recycling label to more than 4,000 products.

"We still have about 8,000 products to do, but we only started in December," said Monkman. "From now on every product that is under development or being re-designed will include the recycling label."

Asda won the management category prize in the Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) award 2008 last week for its commitment to reducing the volume of packaging it uses.

Monkman said: "The award also helps demonstrate that product by product, aisle by aisle, we can all make it easier for customers to do their bit and that simple changes really do make a difference."