Packaging
Why not exercise your consumer power and complain politely and effectively when you believe a product has too much packaging?
Many retailers believe it is hugely important to be responsive to their customers. So why not take this at face value and make your voice heard? If you believe a product has too much packaging, contact the retailer, brand or supplier either by revisiting the place that you bought the product, or by writing to them. Also, take a look at the product packaging, it may have a contact number or address for you to use. You can use this letter template to help compose your letter.
If you feel you are not making progress with your complaint or are unsatisfied with the response you receive, you can report the case to your local authority Trading Standards Office. To find your local office visit the Trading Standards website.
The products you choose to buy can have a big influence on the amount of waste produced. So look out for products with reduced packaging and avoid products which are over packaged - this can make a really big difference in the long run. For example, buy loose fruit and veg, this can save a lot of otherwise unnecessary packaging. Consider buying concentrates. Concentrated products contain less water so can reduce packaging by over 50%. Fabric conditioner, squash, liquid detergent and handwash are all examples of concentrated or refillable products.
