The government said it would phase out its purchases of single-use plastics, a significant step because it is the biggest buyer of consumer goods in the world.
Plastic at supermarkets is very effective at reducing food spoilage. Ditching the plastic will result in much more food hitting the bin, and higher food costs. Given all that binned food must be created and transported again, it’s a huge net negative for the environment.
Everything is a tradeoff. Until we develop a coat effective solution for maintaining freshness (and the other varieties of plastics usage), it’s more or less the best option we have for now.
Microplastics have been found in a fair number of foods already. Fish especially.
I’m on board with reducing plastics, but grocery stores are lower on the list than say… All the non food stores like hardware, hobby, and clothing stores.
It’s a tall order overall, any progress is a step on the right direction.
Plastic at supermarkets is very effective at reducing food spoilage. Ditching the plastic will result in much more food hitting the bin, and higher food costs. Given all that binned food must be created and transported again, it’s a huge net negative for the environment.
If only there was some other way we can protect bananas, like a thick outer layer we could peel off.
Sure. Next you’ll be saying the same about apples. Or some other silly claim like the thick outer layer on an apple can be eaten.
That’s innovation, I’d like to invest $50m into your idea.
Thank you. I’ve added AI and I’m calling them AIpples.
This is going to be the biggest thing since packaged pre-sliced apples.
We are still working on the technology there. You still have to buy more than one slice per package.
Not a lot more, but…
Depends on how bad you think microplastics are for us? 🤷♂️
Everything is a tradeoff. Until we develop a coat effective solution for maintaining freshness (and the other varieties of plastics usage), it’s more or less the best option we have for now.
Microplastics have been found in a fair number of foods already. Fish especially.
I’m on board with reducing plastics, but grocery stores are lower on the list than say… All the non food stores like hardware, hobby, and clothing stores.
It’s a tall order overall, any progress is a step on the right direction.
There are other effective ways to package food for retail they just tend not to be transparent.
mycelium wrappers can be pretty effective, and just as inexpensive, once producers are prodded into compliance.