Personnel from the Parachute Regiment eating the 12 hour ORP in Afghanistan (Picture: MOD).

Environmental action groups are hitting out at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) after the decision to wrap over two million ration packs per-year in non-recyclable plastic sleeves.

Before the decision was made 18 months ago, Army, Royal Navy and RAF personnel were issued cardboard boxes to carry their breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks.

Learning of the decision to switch, multiple groups have warned of increased toxic waste.

Amongst the campaigners, Greenpeace said that the packaging would end up “going to landfill, incineration or polluting our oceans”.