Supermarkets should be banned from selling fresh produce like bananas, apples, and potatoes in plastic packaging to encourage a return to shopping "like our nan," according to the influential anti-waste charity, Wrap.
The organisation is urging the government to implement a ban on plastic packaging for 21 common fruits and vegetables by 2030, including salad tomatoes, carrots, and avocados.
After considering various approaches, such as new taxes or subsidies, Wrap concluded that a government ban would be the most effective way to reduce the vast amounts of plastic packaging discarded by UK households—nearly 100 billion pieces annually—and address the related issue of food waste.
Countries like France have already introduced laws to tackle the same problem, banning plastic packaging on many fresh products.
Harriet Lamb, Wrap’s chief executive, acknowledged that "this will be hard" for British consumers, many of whom have grown accustomed to buying fruit and vegetables in pre-packaged formats. She added that a ban would represent "one of the biggest changes in the retail landscape in a while."
In 2018, UK supermarkets and food companies agreed to voluntary targets under the UK Plastics Pact, led by Wrap. One goal was for 50% of uncut fruit and veg to be sold loose by the end of the decade. However, Wrap's call for a formal consultation and a ban signals that this target may not be achieved without government intervention.
A progress report published last year showed that in 2022, only 19.4% of fresh produce was sold loose, with individual retailers' figures varying between 2% and 30%. By comparison, in mainland Europe, 50% of fresh produce is sold without packaging.
While plastic packaging has reduced store waste, streamlined production lines, and tidied shelves, Lamb noted that around 30% of fresh produce ends up in the bin because pre-set pack sizes often result in customers buying more than they need.
Wrap estimates that banning packaging on the 21 identified foods when sold in amounts under 1.5kg could save 100,000 tonnes of fresh produce and 13,000 tonnes of single-use plastic film each year. The charity is also proposing a second phase to extend the ban to all uncut produce, with exceptions for items like soft fruits and herbs.
Although two-thirds of shoppers claim to prefer selecting and weighing their own produce, Lamb pointed out that they do not always act on this preference. She encouraged consumers to shop "like our nan back in the day when everyone chose what they wanted in the grocery store."
Lamb emphasised the importance of making it easier for shoppers to compare prices and weigh their produce, but stressed that "the final step in the dance is the regulation with a timeline, creating a level playing field and a mandate to change."
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