Nino Jefferson Lim
Reducing Plastic Waste in the Grocery Store
Introduction
It’s among the most severe problems threatening the future of our planet. Plastics pollution has emerged as an environmental hazard of truly epic proportions. One need only to look around to see ugly pieces of plastic trash along roadsides and errant plastic bags clinging to bushes and trees even in well-kept city parks. The oceans are reeling under literally billions of tons of plastic, some of it forming “mini-plastic continents” that are twice the size of the state of Texas.
Grocery stores are significant generators of plastic waste. Ever since “paper or plastic?” became a familiar phrase starting in 1979, the use of plastics for carrying out groceries, wrapping fruits and vegetables, and storing thousands of other products has exploded exponentially. For example, in the U.K. alone, take-out lunches account for 11 billion plastic waste items every year. While it has all been convenient, the environmental price for plastics has come due. Grocery stores are scrambling to limit the use of plastic throughout their operations. It’s an enormous undertaking because heavy use of plastics has become deeply ingrained in just about every aspect of selling food.
More Bulk Bins Instead of individually wrapping thousands of items a day in plastic, grocery stores are moving to place food items in bulk bins. Fruits and vegetables can be sprayed frequently with water to help them stay fresh while not being airprotected by plastic.
Reusable Bags and Dispenser An example of this in action is a Czech firm called MIWA. It has created a system for grocery stores to deliver products in reusable dispensers. Customers shop with their containers or can also use containers that can be returned, cleaned, and made ready for a new round of use. Other stores are reusable bags for sale at a small price, while many others rent them. Customers get their deposit back when they return a rental grocery bag.
Banning Plastic Bags Grocery stores may not like it, nor customers, but New York recently became the latest U.S. state to ban single-use plastic bags. It joins Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Oregon, and Vermont. This is an example of enforced behavior change in grocery stores.
Conclusion Enormous challenges remain. For example, grocery stores are a primary venue for buying single-use beverages and water in plastic bottles. Should grocery stores be obligated to formulate a policy on selling these products, or should the immediate pressure come down on the manufacturer? Whatever the case, grocery stores will continue to be a focal point for handling the global plastic waste crisis.
Nino Jefferson Lim Nino Jefferson Lim is a successful businessman and founder of Island Pacific Market, a supermarket chain that spans the state of California.