Walkers Crisps has revealed what it is doing with empty crisp packets returned in the post.

Campaigners are returning the packets to the Leicester based company in protest of the packaging.

It comes after calls for the company to ensure the packets can be recycled.

What are Walkers doing with the empty packets?

People from all over the country have sent their empty packets back to the manfacturers.

A spokesperson told Leicestershire Live: "We have received some returned packets and recognise the efforts being made to bring the issue of packaging waste to our attention.

"The returned packets will be used in our research, as we work towards our commitment of improving the recyclability of our packaging.”

Inside the Walkers factory

Mr Ashcroft mentioned the trial of potato starch in creating packaging for crisps back in 2010 in the America and was made of 100 per cent plant based biodegradable material.

However the bag was deemed too noisy and ultimately scrapped before it could make its way to the UK, despite it's biodegradability.

Mr Ashcroft thinks that Walkers should revisit this model and said: "Why don't they let the British public make their own minds up?"

Walkers along with many leading supermarkets and products have until 2025 to reduce their plastic packaging waste.

Why are people sending back crisp packets?

A petition calling for Walkers to improve the recyclability of their packaging has racked up 310,000 signatures.

Geraint Ashcroft, from Pontypridd, is the creator of the petition, and he thinks it's about time that Walkers did their bit for the environment.

"We’ve already seen big companies and Government step up and tackle the plastic bag problem and introduce recyclable cups, manufacturing giants like Walkers now need to do their bit," he said.