85% of Easter eggs are packaging

7.25.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Apr 2007

The Liberal Democrats have released research showing that only 15% of an average Easter egg is made from chocolate.

The main findings are:

• The average volume of Easter eggs was approximately 15% of the total packaging volume, with the worst case being the Lindt egg, which took up just 9% of the volume of the total package.

• The average height of Easter eggs was approximately 60% of the height of packages.

• The average weight of Easter eggs was less than half of that of the average weight of the total egg packages.

• The majority of the Easter eggs were packaged using three separate layers of material - an egg wrapped in foil, in a plastic tray, inside a cardboard box.

• Most of the products also contained extra items within further packaging: chocolates, miniature eggs and chocolate bars.

• Of the 14 eggs measured, 4 gave no recycling information on the packaging, 8 used the standard logo to encourage recycling and in just two cases, both mentioned below, was further information related to recycling given on the packaging.

Commenting Liberal Democrat MP, Jo Swinson said:

"Chocolate Easter eggs are a stand-out example of excess packaging. The bright, colourful boxes that fill supermarket shelves in the weeks running up to Easter Sunday contain eggs that are often far smaller than the packaging that encases them.

"None of us can escape our environmental responsibilities. Consumers have a vital role to play in recycling, as do businesses and local authorities. However, this is a role that could be made far easier if producers reduced quantities of packaging, unburdening consumers of the excessive amounts of packaging that they take home with their shopping.

"Tougher action against excess packagers, extended commitments from supermarkets and producers to cut packaging and promotion of good practice among supermarkets must all be part of the Government's plans in the future.