From Stage 2, we found out that there are many chemicals being added into these synthesized materials, which can pose health effects on consumers. Also, the creation of such materials can be energy-intensive and result in environmental pollution. In this post, we will uncover how food retailers determine the type and the amount of packaging being used for its food products.
We decided to focus on supermarkets and large food retailers as they have significant agency in the type and amount of packaging being used by their suppliers, hence they have an important role to play in minimising the pollution and plastic footprint.
Case study: Plastics in Supermarkets
It is a common sight to see packaged food products, ranging from pre-cut fruits, frozen meat and vegetables. There are also “plastic bags on hand for those loose items that shoppers select before they’re weighed and priced” (Ang, 2019). Why do supermarkets use so much plastic?
1. Cost-effective.
Plastics are “cheap, light, and convenient” in comparison to other materials such as glass and paper which are more expensive but less durable (Borunda, 2019). These retailers aim to maximise profits and minimise costs, hence they tend to opt for the most cost-effective method to ensure economic gains.
2. Brand Differentiation.
“Supermarkets cater to people who want the branding and packaging” (Ang, 2019).
3. Food Safety and Reduce Food Waste.
Packaging helps to “protect food, preserve freshness, and prevent spoilage and waste” (Chua, 2019). By extending the shelf life and minimising the damage done to the food products, it can still be sold to consumers and reduce environmental pollution, as “food waste, in general, produces three times as much carbon as packaging waste” (Crowe, 2020).
The main source of the problem is when these plastic packaging are disposed of inappropriately, which could end up in our water bodies. This can threaten marine biodiversity as well as degrade into microplastics. When consumed by aquatic creatures, these microplastics can bioaccumulate and magnify, resulting in large amounts of toxins in our food chain. Nonetheless, there are strategies taken by supermarket chains to communicate with their suppliers, create recyclable packaging or switch to more sustainable alternatives (Chua, 2019). For example, FairPrice in Singapore “works closely with its suppliers to maintain the quality of its produce while avoiding excessive packaging when transporting and retailing these products” (Ang, 2019).
Case study: Packaging by Food retailers
Straws were not a modern invention, but mostly paper straws were used in the past. It was during the 1960s when there was the mass production of plastic straws. “Straws were among the many throw-away products being rapidly manufactured by large corporations. Plastic straws quickly became cheaper to produce and more durable than paper” (Gibbens, 2019). “Plastics Europe, one of the world’s largest plastic producers, reports that 1.5 million tons of plastic were produced in 1950, but by 2015, the world was producing 322 million tons of plastic” (ibid.). This presented huge environmental impacts for our land, sea and resources as straws are “small-sized and tend to break apart into smaller pieces” (Davis, 2019). In mitigating this, there are initiatives implemented by global companies to take on more sustainable packaging.
With the aim of reducing waste and safeguarding the environment, Starbucks has created a new form of packaging- strawless lids- to phase out plastic straws from its more than 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020, which will eliminate more than 1 billion straws a year (Starbucks, 2020). With the phasing out of plastic straws, it can have a beneficial impact on the environment. However, this remains debatable. Starbucks claimed that the lids are made of polypropylene which allows for more durability and ease of recycling. a recyclable plastic that’s easier to catch in the recycling process. However, many argue that straws are just a small aspect of plastic usage and these new lids are thicker and actually use more plastic (Davis, 2019).
In summary, food retailers such as corporations and supermarkets all have a part to play in minimising the environmental degradation from the use of packaging. For example, Kroger operates over 2700 grocery stores across the U.S. and hands out about 6 billion plastic bags a year (Borunda, 2019). Although this makes up only 6% of the total number of plastic bags in the country, the accumulated efforts of other large retailers could drastically reduce the plastic footprint in the food industry.
Trailing off,
Jade and Ridzuan
References
Ang, H.M. (2019). Could more be done to reduce plastic packaging waste in Singapore’s supermarkets? [online] CNA. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/reduce-plastic-packaging-supermarkets-clingwrap-11756670 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Borunda, A. (2019). Grocery stores are packed with plastic. Some are changing. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/plastic-free-supermarket-grocery-shopping/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Chua, J.M. (2019). Grocers like Aldi and Trader Joe’s are trying to cut down on plastic waste. [online] Vox. Available at: https://www.vox.com/2019/10/9/20885735/grocery-store-plastic-waste-produce-aldi-walmart [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Crowe, V. (2020). What are supermarkets doing about plastic? [online] Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/recycling/article/what-are-supermarkets-doing-about-plastic-ahzAC2s22tXv [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Davis, O. (2019). Starbucks’ new strawless lids are not a win for the environment. [online] The Crimson White. Available at: https://cw.ua.edu/52900/opinion/starbucks-new-strawless-lids-are-not-a-win-for-the-environment/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Gibbens, S. (2019). A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/news-plastic-drinking-straw-history-ban/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
Rochman, B. (2020). Straws are out, lids are in: Starbucks announces environmental milestone. [online] Available at: https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/starbucks-announces-environmental-milestone/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2020].
