Six food and drink companies have agreed to test a draft product carbon footprinting standard currently being developed by the Carbon Trust, Defra and BSI British Standards.

Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, The Co-op Group, Kimberly-Clark, Müller Dairy and Scottish & Newcastle have all agreed to use the draft standard to calculate the carbon emissions of selected products.

Cadbury Schweppes will test the standard on its Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, the Co-op Group will test 200g and 400g punnets of strawberries, while Kimberly-Clark will test Andrex Toilet Tissue and Huggies nappies.

Scottish & Newcastle has chosen Fosters lager and Bulmers cider while Müller will use the standard on one of its yoghurts.

Other companies taking part in the scheme include Aggregate Industries, Halifax and Marshalls.

"The take up from business of the Carbon Trust's scheme shows that there's real appetite and willingness to firstly understand, and secondly to reduce the impact that their products have on our planet,” said climate change minister Joan Ruddock.