More than 100 different actions are planned across England and Wales. WI members will be illustrating the extent of the problem by returning unnecessary packaging to supermarkets and distributing leaflets explaining the impact that supermarket practices and packaging can have on the environment.

NFWI Chair Fay Mansell said “WI members want supermarkets to reduce unnecessary packaging and put the environment first. I urge the public to join our campaign and return unnecessary and excessive packaging to supermarkets. Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our world today. Supermarkets must take action now to reduce the packaging which, as landfill waste, releases greenhouse gases.”

The NFWI is calling on supermarkets to offer incentives to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags, adopt more environmentally friendly practices, extend the use of biodegradable packaging which can be composted and investigate other ways of improving packaging processes.

In the UK we produce enough waste in one hour to fill the Albert Hall and 100,000 tonnes of plastic bags are thrown away in the UK each year – the same weight as 70,000 cars. Plastic bags sent to landfill can take around 500 years to decay.

The campaign is supported by environmentalist and editor of The Ecologist Zac Goldsmith, and actress Joanna Lumley.

Zac Goldsmith said "Excess packaging in supermarkets is a real problem - and it's wonderful to see the NFWI leading the way with this initiative. I hope many more people join them in their campaign to persuade the big retailers to change their packaging policies."

Joanna Lumley said “I hate the wasteful and wholly unnecessary non-biodegradable rubbish attached to all our purchases – slash packaging! Stop cellophane!”