Reusable bottles and mugs added to ONS basket of goods for 2020 as consumers choose sustainable items 

Reusable bottles and mugs have been added to the nation's basket by ONS, as environmental concerns have changed shopping habits.

Reusable bottles and mugs have been added to the inflation basket of goods for 2020 as consumers choose sustainable items over single-use plastic, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Also on this year's list for the first time are vegetable crisps, showing the trend towards healthier eating, and gluten-free cereal, reflecting the increasing amount of spending and shelf space allocated to "free from" ranges.

Cocktails in a can also made an appearance for the first time as a growing number of brands introduced spirit mixes to their product ranges.

Self-tanning products, crumpets and minced turkey were added to the basket for 2020, while frozen imported legs of lamb, individual fruit pies and frozen chicken breasts dropped out.

The basket of goods helps measure the changing cost of products and services over time and is updated annually to show the changing tastes and habits of the UK.

ONS senior statistician Philip Gooding said: "This year we have added reusable bottles and mugs to the inflation basket, as there has been a rise in popularity with many consumers looking to decrease their environmental impacts.

"It is important to remember that these annual changes are only a small percentage of the overall basket. "This year we've added 16 items, removed 14 and modified four, while leaving 702 unchanged.

"Decisions on changes to the basket depend, among other issues, on the amounts spent on products and their availability for pricing in shops.

"In addition to updating the goods and services that are included, the ONS also updates the weighting of each item within the basket to ensure the overall inflation rate reflects households' spending habits as closely as possible."