No plastic packaging – sell fresh uncut produce loose, says WRAP report

No plastic packaging – sell fresh uncut produce loose, says WRAP report - WRAP

New research and recommendations from WRAP signal the end of unnecessary plastic packaging and Best Before labels on a wide range of fresh uncut fruit and vegetables in the UK.
Evidence shows that selling fresh produce loose and removing date labels could prevent 14 million shopping baskets worth of food from going to waste and 1,100 rubbish trucks of avoidable plastic simply by allowing people to buy what they need.
WRAP calls for removal of more unnecessary and problematic single use plastic items under The UK Plastics Pact, including wrapping on multi-packs of tinned food and sauce sachets in restaurants.

New research sees global NGO WRAP challenge the status quo of the way retailers sell fresh uncut fruit and vegetables, highlighting that it should change significantly in the future.

Changes ahead

An 18-month project conducted by WRAP, with input from industry, to examine the link between food waste in the home and the use of plastic packaging, has challenged accepted thinking that packaging helps to preserve fresh produce. In fact, it shows that selling loose has huge potential to reduce food waste in our homes. The research also examined the influence of date labels and storage temperatures on food going to waste.

WRAP is now calling on the UK’s major retailers to rethink how they sell uncut fresh produce with three key recommendations:

Sell loose – where possible, unless it is shown that plastic packaging reduces overall food waste.
Remove date labels - unless it can be shown that a Best Before reduces overall food waste.
Refrigerate below 5°C at home – Help your customers understand the benefits of storing appropriate fresh produce in the fridge, set at the right temperature.

Marcus Gover, CEO WRAP, “This important research could be a game-changer in the fight against food waste and plastic pollution. We have demystified the relationship between wasted food, plastic packaging, date labels and food storage. While packaging is important and often carries out a critical role to protect food, we have proven that plastic packaging doesn’t necessarily prolong the life of uncut fresh produce. It can in fact increase food waste in this case. We have shown the massive potential to save good food from being thrown away by removing date labels. We are all living with the reality of the climate emergency and the rising cost of living. This new clarity could not be more timely. We need retailers to step up and follow our recommendations so we can achieve real progress in tackling food waste and plastic pollution. This helps save the planet and us money at the same time – a real win-win.”