More than half of all shoppers would like to know more about the environmental impact of food and grocery products, while the retailers are making significant steps in dealing with related issues, according to new research from IGD.

Some 55 per cent are interested in the environmental issues related to their food, with 40 per cent actively interested in packaging in particular.

Earlier this year, research showed that 37 per cent of shoppers think re-sealable packaging would help to reduce the amount of food they throw away - eight per cent higher than in 2007.

The major UK supermarkets have also launched initiatives in the last year to tackle the issue; Sainsbury’s is working to reduce its own brand packaging weight by 33 per cent, relative to sales, by 2015 (using a 2009 baseline) and The Co-operative’s waste minimisation initiative aims to use 15 per cent less packaging for own-brand products by the end of 2010.

Tesco has recently announced that it is diverting 100 per cent of waste produced by its entire UK business away from landfill; Asda aims to send zero waste to landfill across all of the Asda and George businesses by 2010, while Morrisons aims to use 15 per cent less own-brand packaging by 2010.

Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive of the IGD, said: "Shoppers are concerned about the environmental impact of food packaging. Awareness of sustainability, recycling and renewable energy has gained momentum and shoppers want to see the food and grocery industry responding to their concerns."

Dan Norris, DEFRA minister responsible for waste policy, is set to discuss the issue at this year's IGD Packaging and Product Resource Efficiency conference, to discuss the government's latest packaging policy. Delegates will also hear the Waste & Resources Action Programme review its latest International Packaging Technologies report and from retailers and manufacturers on their packaging and resource efficiency strategies.

The IGD’s Packaging and Product Resource Efficiency conference takes place on October 22.

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