Corporate responsibility manager Laurence Singer said customers were demanding packaging reductions and the ability to recycle packaging.

"Where we have got a direct influence on suppliers we can make things happen," he said.

Some 55% of Home Retail Group consumers that have large appliances delivered are using a scheme to return the packaging for recycling.

"Our distributors take unwanted packaging back to stores where it is disposed of with the packaging that we get from the waste generated in store. The last thing consumers want is packaging to dispose of," said Singer.

After reporting the 80% reduction in waste to landfill in the past five years – 87,000 tonnes to 13,000 tonnes – Home Retail Group has said it is targeting a further 25% reduction in the coming year.