(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-14 22:12

Overall, Nielsen said consumers were shifting to demand paper, cardboard or glass, all of which can be recycled, rather than plastic or polystyrene.

Bernard Leveau of packaging specialists Multivac in France said there were many ways of simplifying packaging. The firm had cut the thickness of plastic film used in food packaging by 30-35 percent while keeping the same strength, he said.

He also said retailers in the 1980s strived to extend the shelf life of fresh food -- such as up to three weeks for meat -- demanding complex packaging. "We're noticing that a shelf life of eight or 10 days is generally enough," he told Reuters.

Among other shifts, biodegradable materials for packaging could replace plastics and canned foods could often be sold in far less heavy containers.

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