Information on Loughborough

Packed Lunch Packaging

Posted on 20/09/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk

packed lunchParenthood can be a difficult time with all the things to think about and one of those items is the environment the children will grow in and the future it holds. The continual consumption of the Earths resources and the production of large amounts of waste is one of the major issues of our time. However, it is not a single change that is going to make a difference, its lots of small changes that will ensure that there is a future for not only our children in Loughborough but the rest of planet.

If everyone  could just introduce one change every so often, such as decreasing the amount of waste we produce from one meal then, together with other things the cumulative effects such on this by recycling will have a substantial beneficial effect on our environment and help reduce the chance of an environmental disaster.

With this in mind families across the Borough of Charnwood and the rest of Leicestershire are being encouraged to improve everyones environment and quality of life by making a small change. Not only is it a small change it will help stress to children the importance of recycling and help them grow up to become responsible adults.

The change, which is simply to reduce the amount of packaging used when preparing a packed lunch is one of the many imitative that Leicestershire County Council have released. And when you think about it, it is all common sense and money saving. Instead of using disposable packaging which create a lot of waste, reuse containers or boxes for the storage of such items as sandwiches. Lunchboxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes and will, if looked after reasonably well (we are talking about children after all), will last a long time and prove themselves cheaper than roll after roll of Clingfilm or aluminium foil.

Other ideas involve thinking of what actually goes into the lunch. Rather than bags of crisps or bars of chocolate, all of which have packaging around them why not something a bit more healthy like a piece of fruit such as an apple or banana. Drinks bottles can be reused at substantial ecological savings when compared to tins of drink or bottles that are thrown away.

Brian Page, LCCs Cabinet Member for Waste Management, said: "Reducing, reusing and recycling has never been more important and the next generation of recyclers are being inspired to carry on this process.

Recycling can be a chore but surprisingly is not the best option for the environment. The best option is not needing to use it in the first place. So if you are a parent of a child and you are wandering around the supermarkets in Loughborough buying food for your offsprings lunch or dinner have a think what type of world you want your child to become an adult in, given the wider perspective putting an apple in rather than a chocolate bar and using a sandwich box rather than some aluminium foil doesnt really seem to be an issue.