NLWA backs ‘Choose Loose’ campaign calling for the removal of plastic packaging on fruit and veg

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has pledged support for the ‘Choose Loose’ campaign, run by social enterprise Everyday Plastic. The campaign is calling for all UK supermarkets to abolish plastic packaging from the top five most wasted fruit and vegetable products in households – namely, potatoes, apples, bananas, carrots and onions.

Last year, a study carried out by Everyday Plastic on behalf of NLWA found that over 46 million pieces of plastic are used each week by north Londoners. Many of the items thrown away, such as milk bottles and tubs, can be recycled at home. However, items such as fruit and veg packaging, snack bags and wrappers, which are considered low value or composite materials, are currently difficult to recycle, accounting for over half of the pieces of plastic thrown away by participants.

The ‘Choose Loose’ campaign argues that if retailers sell potatoes, apples, bananas, carrots and onions loose, 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging could be prevented from disposal. It would also reduce carbon emissions, decrease food waste and save money by allowing people to only buy what they need.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, NLWA Chair, said: “Consumers have the power to influence supermarkets through their purchasing choices – just look at the introduction of ‘wonky veg’ as an example. But at the moment retailers are simply not moving quickly or urgently enough to play their part in tackling the Climate Emergency.

“NLWA has been asking government to change harmful packaging policy for years, including a call to implement Extended Producer Responsibility and to stop postponing the Deposit Return Scheme. There is no excuse for unnecessary plastic packaging anymore - sustainable packaging must become the norm without delay.”



Daniel Webb, Founder and Director of Everyday Plastic, said: “We recognise that removing plastic packaging from fruit and veg products is a big and complex task. But the pledges put forward in a new report by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) are just another set of unambitious, voluntary commitments from supermarkets to eliminate plastic packaging from fresh produce.

“They are not acting urgently enough nor seeing how huge this opportunity is for pioneering and positive change. Together, we must help shoppers to save plastic, money, and food waste by encouraging them to choose loose.”

Everyday Plastic is asking the public to sign their petition in the hope that supermarkets will increase the availability and affordability of packaging-free fruit and vegetables. So far the petition has over 81,000 names out of a 100,000 target. Have your say and sign the Everyday Plastic petition.

North London residents, and all UK residents, play a vital role in minimising the needless use of plastic packaging across the country. If we change our purchasing habits, retailers will need to keep pace with consumer trends and plastic packaging usage will be curtailed.