We put out a call for you to send in your nominations for the most over-packaged item you've come across lately.

Here are a selection of the entries we received, in no particular order. And we've asked Friends of the Earth to give us a bit of advice on how to complain effectively next time you see anything similar.

If any of the companies our readers have mentioned would like to take advantage of their right of reply, we’d be only too happy to publish their emails on this page.

Please send any correspondence regarding packaging to katie.walsh@nesta.org.uk

"I would like to nominate Cadbury and Mars for their disgusting over-packaging of Easter eggs and selection boxes.

"As a mum of 2 boys, who receive far too much chocolate than they should (!!), I have found it unbelievable how much cardboard is used. In order to store such chocolate delights and get them out of temptations way, we take all the sweets and chocolate out of the boxes to put them in the cupboard.

We are then left with a HUGE mound of packaging which, if not squashed, easily fills 1+ black bin liner. Every year my husband and I moan on about 'what a disgrace!' and it's wonderful to see someone doing more than just moaning about it!

"Of course, we do put the cardboard in our local recycle bin but in the case of selection boxes there's a lot a plastic too!"

Ali Nicholson

"I'm one of those people who likes to always try a new brand of shampoo and conditioner, rarely buying the same type twice. A few months ago I bought St Ives shampoo and conditioner from Boots without really thinking too hard about it. I was tempted by their pretty packaging and 'natural, eco-friendly' type of labelling/marketing on the box.

"But when I got it home I was really annoyed that not only were the two perfectly secure bottles in boxes (unnecessary packaging number 1) but also within those boxes were plastic inserts to hold the bottles in place (unnecessary packaging number 2). Also the cardboard box itself contained a see-through plastic window (unnecessary packaging number 3) which would mean I would have to tear them apart in order to recycle them. And all that for a mere 200ml or so of product! I was annoyed with myself for having succumbed to the marketing and was too embarrassed to take them back to Boots for a refund.

So I wrote to the company and sent them all the packaging (in a reused plastic bag instead of a new jiffy envelope!) together with my comments and my request for them to recycle it all.

"The reply I got was amazing, they said their customers preferred all this packaging as it showed it was a high-quality product. They made no comment about the eco-unfriendliness or any commitment they may (should!) have to looking after the environment.

I'd encourage anyone else to do the same with excess packaging. If customer service departments get enough rubbish sent to them they'll eventually persuade their designers to reduce the packaging."

Sarah Hunt

"I would like to enter a company called GREAT GIZMOS in your name and shame competition. Recently we ordered 24 MINI KALEIDESCOPES which were packaged on card with toughened plastic, each measured 11.5cm x 20cm.

They were in a small box packaged with polystyrene chippings which would have been sufficient to post BUT that box was INSIDE A humungous box measuring 60cm x 40cm and 60cm deep.

"We thought we had received a big delivery of goods and kept rummaging in the box and there was nothing else inside much to our disbelief. We commented at the time that it was so wasteful and if we hadn't had to pay for the package and postage ourselves were going to post it back to them pointing out the waste. I am sorry we didn't now."

Lizzie Stenhouse
Visitor Centre Co-ordinator
The Royal Observatory Visitor Centre

"I was on a Virgin train back up North a few months ago. I went to the buffet car to buy a cup of coffee (with paper bag, plastic stirrer, sugar and two milks whether or not you want them) and was horrified to see that they were selling individual oranges wrapped in the kind of plastic packaging that you would expect for Star Wars figures.

"I also used to live in Japan, possibly the world's worst culprit. There, for example, if you bought a packet of 16 McVities chocolate digestives, they would come in a box, and would be packaged also into fours inside plastic wrappers. But in their defence, they seem to be much more advanced at recycling - all household waste has to be separated and put out on different days."

Craig Brierley

"What really bugs me, although it is probably not the most excessive use of packaging, are all those convenient cleaning tablets.

"Manufacturers seem to be pushing people towards dishwasher & washing machine tablets, rather than the boxes of powder. I think the tablets are wonderfully convenient, but can't they formulate them so that they do not have to be individually wrapped? Or wrap them in bio-degradable paper? Or a paper that dissolves in the wash? All those extra bits of polythene that were not around a few years ago can't be helping."

Julie Leonard

I would like to nominate Logitech who provide goods to the technical and computer market. A recent purchase of a computer mouse no bigger than the palm of your hand and only 1” tall came in a box 8” x 9” x 1” ≤ with a cardboard outer, an inner plastic box and a further inner plastic moulded case. Also included in the package was a cdrom in a wallet along with an instruction manual and brochure all inside another plastic sleeve. The sad part is that we the consumer do make choices based on marketing rather than hard facts and although the company no doubt has to pay taxes on the amount of packaging used I’m sure some or all these costs are passed on to the consumer in the price of the product.

Richard - Southampton

Here’s a candidate for you to name and shame about excess packaging. It’s a delivery from Dabs, the internet supply company for computer kit. The item delivered is a pack of A4 paper, which came in a box of size 23 inch x 16 inch. The goods weigh 450gm, the packaging weighs 700gm.

I have already written to Dabs about this but they haven’t bothered to reply.

Martin Wilson

Today I received a package from Screwfix. It measured 46cm x 36cm x 16cm, inside was my order that measured 6cm x 5cm x 4cm. At first I thought the box was empty.

This company clearly has no regard for the environment.

Andrew East

I ordered 2 posters from the Natural History Museum Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, one framed & one not framed. They both came in separate packaging with the framed one in a flat box. The A3 poster came in a thick card tube measuring 4ft long and 8” diameter.

Grace Comely

Dear Katie, please find attached pictures for the worst case of over packaging I have come across. It is for a usb flash drive from Amazon. I complained to customer service but they replied with a generic response which didn't address my issues. I have since complained again but to no avail!

Alan Carlyle

Here is what you should do if you think you have too much packaging.

Contact Trading Standards:

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations contain provisions on packaging. These Regulations are enforced by the Trading Standards Office (TSO) on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. TSOs can investigate complaints of excessive packaging and consumers who wish to can contact Trading Standards by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

More information on the UK's Packaging Legislation can be found on here.

Altenatively you could

1. Go back to the customer service department of your retailer or the manufacturer.

2. Offer to give back packaging for recycling or re-use.

If you think that someone’s made a claim about recycling or waste in the UK that is false or misleading:

Call the Office Of Fair Trading
Phone : 020 7211 8000, Fax : 020 7211 8800, E-mail : enquiries@oft.gov.uk.

Or phone the Consumers Association on: 08453 010 010

The website www.wastewatch.org.uk is very good for practical recycling advice

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