Wearside-based packaging firm, PFF Packaging Group, has opened a £1m development in order to seek a change in attitude towards the food sector.

The company has revealed that its innovation centre will allow designers to create new blueprints for packaging.

The development will focus on the next generation of containers and seek to reduce the UK’s waste food mountain.

The centre was opened by group managing director Andy Bairstow, who said: “The Innovation Centre is turning what is traditionally a long and sometimes complex process completely on its head. It’s a major advance for us and our customers, the packaging industry in general and for business in the north-east.”

Every year, tonnes of food are thrown away, and the government previously unveiled a bill to encourage supermarkets, manufacturers and distributors to cut waste by at least 30% over the next 10 years.

PFF was founded in 1993, and supplies packaging for bakery and meat products.

The firm also works with a number of companies, with previous customers including supermarkets and ready meal makers.