Removing plastic packaging from fresh produce – what’s the impact?

There has been a rise in public awareness and scrutiny of the negative environmental impact of plastic pollution in recent years. Plastic packaging of food causes a significant proportion of the UK’s plastic waste, and manufacturers and retailers are exploring alternatives to single‐use plastics, particularly in relation to fresh produce, including increasing the availability of loose items in supermarkets. However, there is an important trade‐off to consider when removing plastic packaging from fruit and vegetables, which is the resultant reduction in shelf life and therefore potential increase in food waste. Fresh produce is estimated to be the most highly wasted type of food in the UK and it is likely that food waste has an even greater environmental impact than the production and disposal of plastic. Full life cycle analysis is currently unavailable for some alternative types of packaging (such as edible films and coatings), which means the relative effect of these on the environment compared to plastic is unclear, and may in fact be worse. More research is required to fully ascertain the best solution for this complex issue. However, communicating strategies to the general public to minimise household wastage of fresh produce, including optimal storage conditions for different varieties of fruit and vegetables, is likely to be of benefit.