Empty gift 'waste of packaging'

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A gift company selling empty packages containing "imaginary friends" has been criticised by green organisations.

Friends of the Earth and Waste Watch say the gifts, sold by the Diabolical Gift People, could be the biggest waste of packaging on shop shelves.

The manufacturers describe the ingredients as "air and imagination" and advise buyers to retain packaging for future use.

A spokesman for the company said the product was meant as a joke.

A Friends of the Earth spokesman said: "We see some pretty absurd wasteful packaging but I don't think we've even seen a gift package which contains nothing before.

"Firms have to be responsible about packaging. But it's also up to consumers to make wise decisions.

"This sounds like something that is very cheap to make. It actually sounds like something you'd give to someone you don't like."

Mike Webster, a consultant with Waste Watch, said: "It's indicative of this single-use culture we live in. But the packages normally have something inside. Here they seem to be selling nothing for £1.99."

The Diabolical Gift People spokesman said: "People pay money for it because it's a joke. There are all sorts of things that are sold that are totally pointless."