Day 6: Plastic packaged fruit and vegetables

Plastic packaged fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are washable and if they have a skin or something to peel off, already have their own, compostable, wrapping designed by nature. Let’s use our purchasing power as consumers to avoid where possible plastic packaged fruit and vegetables.

The top plastic item most people reported that they’re throwing away in Day 3’s bin audit is packaging from food. Unsurprising as 59% of the plastic waste created in Europe comes from packaging. A further 40% of us use plastic produced for packaging just one time before chucking it away.

The counter-argument is that the fruit and vegetable sector needs to use a lot of plastic to meet the demand for convenient, fresh products with a long shelf life. But what is the cost of this packaging on our health? Studies show that plastic food packaging is full of toxic chemicals, so why on earth would it be wise to place it in close contact with a natural and healthy product.

Here are a few ways to avoid plastic packed fruit vegetables:

• Veg delivery boxes
• Choose loose in supermarkets
• Farmer’s markets
• Deli’s, corner shops, minimarkets
• Greengrocers

All you need to do is bring your own bag and some smaller netted ones for loose vegetables. Cotton netted bags are also easier to show the staff what’s inside.

By exercising our consumer power to lobby for and choose package free options, we can ensure a future with many more biodegradable materials that are 100% plastic-free. Down with plastic packaged fruit and vegetables. Celebrate naked vegetables!