Survey shows some Brits still confused by Easter packaging recycling rules

Easter may have been and gone, but many of us will still be eating delicious chocolate late into May. Consumers in Britain are expected to have gone through over 120 million chocolate eggs this Easter season, according to new research from packaging and paper company, DS Smith.

The research, which surveyed 2,000 adults across the UK, found that the average adult will eat 165 chocolate Easter eggs over their lifetime, receiving three chocolate eggs on average each Easter, which contributes to an estimated 8,000 tonnes of packaging each year in the UK. (The survey didn’t focus on children, but figures suggest the average child receives around eight eggs per year!).

Easter egg packaging has seen significant developments to reduce its environmental impact and increase recyclability over the past decade or so. Many manufacturers have transitioned away from plastic to more sustainable materials like cardboard and paper, removing plastic windows, casings and trays where possible. Companies also include clearer recycling instructions on packaging, encouraging consumers to separate materials for proper disposal.

Nevertheless, DS Smith’s survey of 2,000 UK adults, which investigated recycling habits amongst Brits during the Easter period, found that 34% of those surveyed were confused about what Easter egg packaging can be recycled. Meanwhile, 65% of Brits believe that Easter eggs are excessively packaged, with around a quarter unhappy with the amount of resulting waste.

While most of those surveyed (89%) say that they recycle cardboard packaging, over a third (36%) throw the egg’s recyclable foil wrapping away rather than recycling it, while 17% said that they won’t recycle plastic packaging the egg comes in.

Alongside the obvious religious connotations, Easter is also a time for indulging in chocolate eggs, but despite recent innovations in packaging, enjoying these delicious comestibles can still generate a considerable amount of waste. The good news is that you can have a waste-free Easter by recycling as much as possible, so if you don’t recycle your Easter egg packaging, now’s the time to start if you have managed not to eat all your eggs yet!

 

Here is what you need to know…

Easter egg packaging, primarily cardboard and foil, is largely recyclable, but plastic windows and chocolate bar wrappers are generally not. Cardboard boxes should be flattened and placed in the recycling bin, while foil wrappings can be scrunched into a ball (to check they are metal) and also recycled alongside other metals.  Plastic Easter egg trays and casings may be recyclable depending on local recycling guidelines.

By recycling your Easter egg packaging, including foil, gift wrap, cards, food packaging and waste, you are helping the environment by ensuring valuable resources can be turned into new products and given a new lease of life.