Packaging
Almost all businesses use packaging to some extent to pack goods
in the course of conducting their business. Everyone is a consumer
likely to regularly purchase goods, which are contained in
packaging
In the UK we produce around 10 million tonnes of packaging waste
every year. A large amount of this waste ends up in landfill sites
using up valuable space which is quickly running out.
The huge cost of disposing of our rubbish falls to the local
authority and this cost is set to significantly increase year on
year. Also vast amounts of energy and natural resources are used to
produce this packaging in the first place and the cost of this
falls as damage to the environment and to the pockets of
consumers.
So it makes good economic and environmental sense to keep the
amount of packaging used to wrap up goods to a minimum.
We respond to consumer complaints
Carry out projects and surveys
Provide advice to businesses
Trading Standards have a duty to enforce the
Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003
The main requirements of the Regulations are:
• Packaging weight and volume must be kept to the minimum
amount necessary to maintain levels of safety and hygiene and which
is acceptable to the public
• Packaging must be manufactured so as to allow reuse or
recovery in accordance with technical requirements
• Noxious and hazardous chemicals in packaging must be kept to
a minimum
Either acting on complaints from the public or from traders or on
our regular inspections of trade premises, Trading Standards will
examine the packaging around goods which is thought to be
excessive.
If we consider it to be excessive we will pursue the matter with
the person responsible which will usually be the packer or importer
of the goods. If necessary enforcement action can be taken. This
could include a criminal prosecution.
Examples of packaging which may be considered excessive
