Packaging of some Christmas chocolates makes up nearly half their weight

A survey out today has found that the packaging of some popular brands makes up almost half their total weight.

The worst offender was the Ferrero Rocher Collection tray, of which 42 per cent was non-edible and only 11 per cent recyclable, according to the consumer group, Which?

The packaging of Thorntons Continental Selection made up 29.4 per cent of its weight, followed at 22.6 per cent by Cadbury’s Milk Tray. However, both brands used packaging significantly more recyclable than that of Ferrero Rocher.

At the other end of the scale, Lindt Lindor Mix contained only 11.5 per cent packaging, with only the individual chocolate wrappers not recyclable. Marks & Spencer’s The Big One Selection had the least packaging.

Which? also found confusion among consumers about symbols on the boxes, with nearly half mistakenly thinking that a green dot meant they could be recycled.

Nikki Stopford, at Which?, said: “We are more aware than ever of the impact that we’re having on the world around us so we want our research to help people to make the right choices for them and to understand how to dispose of packaging in the most eco-friendly manner.”

Ferrero said its product was “delicately created” and that some consumers liked to reuse the boxes “in fun and creative ways”.

Thorntons said its packaging avoided “cross flavour tainting from the most intense tastes as Espresso or Sicilian Mousse”.