The environment would benefit considerably from a reduction in the level of packaging used by food manufacturers, an expert has suggested.

Blister packs and excess polystyrene are two of the major areas that need revamping, noted founder of nigelsecostore.com Nigel Berman.

He continued: "Oil-based products are getting more expensive, so greener alternatives are becoming more attractive, and a product for example that arrives in an unbleached recycled cardboard box has more of a feelgood factor."

Mr Berman outlined that online purchases are often packaged in too many materials, so companies need to make an effort to recycle wherever possible.

Home cooks may be interested to hear that doughnut company Krispy Kreme was recently fined £12,608 for not complying with the Environment Agency’s Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

The firm pleaded guilty to the breaches and admitted to not registering with the body until April last year.