Several British food retailers have committed to cutting the amount of grocery packaging by 10%, the government has announced.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK, said the companies, including Tesco and Sainsbury's, have agreed to reduce packaging and lower CO2 emissions by around one million tons by December 2012.
Under the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment programme, Defra also aims to save £800m's worth of food waste from landfills over the next three years.
The commitments to tackle the environmental impact of grocery waste is also expected to save the industry £200m and cut greenhouse gas emissions by three million tons over the next three years.
Defra expects the whole chain to achieve a 5% reduction in carbon emissions.
Signatories to the commitment include Nestle, Asda, Sainsbury's, Dairy Crest, Danone Dairies, HJ Heinz, Muller Dairies, Waitrose and Warburtons.
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