It’s Plastic. We Know It’s a Problem. But Why Is Black Plastic Packaging Worse?
October 2018
Supermarket chain Lidl in the UK says it is removing all black plastic packaging from its entire fruit and vegetable range. It also plans to remove black plastic from its fresh meat, fish and poultry range by August 2019.
Lidl sells branded goods as well as its own label goods, and the chain aims to make 100% of its own-label packaging – which it says will only be used where necessary – widely recyclable, reusable or refillable.
What’s The Problem With Black Plastic Packaging?
Well, for a start, it’s plastic. And it’s generally only used once, to protect food (e.g. fruit and vegetables) often sold in supermarkets. And we know that single-use plastic is lousy for the environment.
But black plastic packaging has an even bigger problem.
It is not recyclable in the UK — and many other parts of the world – because it can’t be detected by the sorting systems used for plastic recycling.
So, even if you send it off for recycling, it’ll end up in landfill or as litter.
The Good News
It’s great that Lidl are acting on the problem. It shows that changes can be made quickly – too many companies drag their feet about changing. Governments should also note this, and not accept what some companies tell them about change.
The supermarket chain says its move will save an estimated 50 tonnes of black plastic waste a year, and that’s great! Because it’s just crazy that we’re still producing plastic that can’t be recycled.
Buying groceries in supermarkets causes a lot of single-use disposable plastic packaging to accumulate in our homes. So I’m very happy that Lidl is responding to public concern about black plastic.
What’s Not So Good
What will Lidl use instead of black plastic packaging? Well, sadly, plastic. Not black plastic, it’s true, which is good, but surely we shouldn’t be replacing plastic with plastic, even if it is recyclable?
Last week, UK high-end supermarket chain Waitrose & Partners announced it was to remove traditional plastic bags for loose fruit and vegetables and 5p single-use plastic bags from its stores by next spring.
Supermarkets – and many consumers – say that packaging is needed so that fresh fruit and vegetables aren’t damaged by handling, and also for hygiene purposes. And I can appreciate that.
But I think we should get used to less-than-perfect produce. Many markets sell fresh produce that isn’t suffocated in plastic, and that’s great. Does it taste worse for not being perfect? Plus, plenty of people handle the produce before it gets wrapped, so you’re not really improving the hygiene overall with plastic packaging.
We need to stop our addiction to plastic. It will help to slow climate change, we’ll kill fewer fish and animals, and we’ll have considerably less litter. Supermarkets and governments need to find sensible alternatives, and quickly. And you and I need to stop buying it.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
Related:
- Do your laundry the green and ecofriendly way – here’s how!
- Get rid of all the toxic products in your life (you’ll be shocked at where they hide!). It’s easy – see how here!
