Single-use plastic food packaging is now ubiquitous in society and there is hardly a part of the food chain that is free from plastic, and as a by-product of the petroleum industry, it is also very inexpensive. Approximately 36% of all plastics produced are used in food packaging.
Unfortunately, approximately 85% of all plastic ends up in landfill or as unregulated waste1. Greenpeace estimates that UK households are throwing away an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic a week.
There continues to be significant focus around the packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables in our retail outlets. There is a view from activists and some customers that packaging is unnecessary and should be removed. This view, however, may not consider the protective and shelf life enhancing properties that much packaging gives. All the major retailers have established sustainable packaging aspirations and positions, and many state that concerns about plastic packaging dominate their customer communications.
Most retailers have committed to 100% recyclability of own brand packaging, and the removal of problematic packaging. However, much of this packaging is flexible film, which is not supported for home recycling by most local authorities. Governments worldwide have endeavoured to both legislate and develop their way out of the environmental impacts of our plastic culture, as have political unions such as the EU and the UN.
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Source: britishapplesandpears.co.uk