Fruit & vegetables
Many grocery stores pre-package their fruit and vegetables in plastic, and offer plastic bags for loose items. There are simple alternatives to help reduce your impact on the environment.
What you can do
Choose to refuse pre-packed fruit and vegetables.
How you can do it
Buying plastic-wrapped or packaged fruits and vegetables can be convenient, but unfortunately it creates plastic waste. Instead, look out for loose fruit and vegetables in your local grocery store, or head to a farmers market or organic store where plastic packaging is less often used.
Choose lightweight, reusable produce bags instead of the plastic bags that are usually provided. Be sure to look for ones made from recycled plastic or repurposed netting fabric.
It’s also worth asking if you really need a plastic bag. For example, if you’re buying a bunch of bananas, why not just keep them loose in your shopping basket or trolley and transport them home in your reusable shopping bag?
Taking the next steps
Support stores that provide loose fruit and vegetables or offer paper bags instead of plastic ones. If your local store doesn’t do this, why not share your concerns and request they reduce their plastic packaging.
The impact
- Avoiding plastic-wrapped fruit and vegetables reduces the pressure on recycling systems.
- It also reduces unnecessary waste and saves precious resources.
- You can help save plastic bags from entering our oceans and landfill where they break up into tiny micro plastics and remain forever.
- Plastic is also fatal for animals who mistake it for food or become entangled in it.
