Marks & Spencer will use a fifth less packaging on its Easter egg range this year than in 2009, cutting packaging by 20 tonnes under its Plan A scheme.

The retailer has slashed the packaging of its top-selling Molly Moo Easter egg by 80% as part the scheme to reduce packaging.

Under Plan A, M&S is committed to a 25% reduction for all food packaging as well as using sustainable raw materials where possible.

More than 83% of packaging across the M&S Easter range is recyclable and 63% is from sustainable sources.

A total of 87% of the board used for the Easter range is FSC certified, while 70% of all PET plastic used contains recycled consumer materials.

M&S is using British chocolate for the majority of its Easter egg range this year, which includes products based around Mother Hen, Lucy Lamb and Max the Bunny characters.

M&S head of packaging Helene Roberts said: "We've worked hard this year to find some clever ways to reduce the packaging while still creating a range of eggs that our customers will be proud to give – and of course, they taste great too."