Plastic films are designed to do a specific job of protection and containment with the lowest material use possible. Their very lightweight nature generally makes them less suitable for re-use. However the net environmental benefits of developing minimum material/high spec products easily exceed any constraints imposed on their subsequent re-use.

• A notable exception to this is carrier bags. According to figures from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 80% of carrier bags are re-used by households at least once.