A report from Greenpeace has modelled how UK supermarkets could make significant reductions to the amount of plastic they produce by focusing their attention on the packaging for 54 grocery categories. The analysis showed that changing the packaging for just 13 categories of popular groceries, like fizzy drinks, fruit and vegetables, and household detergents, supermarkets could reduce plastic by approximately 35 percent, remove 45 billion pieces of supermarket plastic, and more than 300,000 tonnes of plastic.
The report suggested that previous research has not detailed the number of components, such as the individual lids, labels and films, and previous studies have not examined product categories, like bottled water, fizzy drinks, household detergents and vegetables. Greenpeace’s report also explained a model for how all UK supermarkets could cut their plastic footprints by 50 percent by 2025. By identifying the “hotspot” product categories, the report pointed out the product categories that have the highest potential for reduction.
Nina Schrank, plastics campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “For the first time, data specialists have mapped out where the greatest potential lies for drastically reducing the volume of plastic packaging going through our supermarket tills. It kick-starts one of the most important environmental questions of our time: How and where can we reduce throwaway packaging? And fast. The challenge to change our plastic habits, move to widespread reuse and refill systems, and turn the tide on plastic pollution, is vast. It will not be easy but it will be possible, and we think UK supermarkets can do it.”
Source: New Food Magazine
Finnish site 
Global site