Plastic is used in many produce packages and has been key for protecting product and ensuring shelf life, but retailers are increasingly taking a stance that less plastic is what the future is. (File Photo)
From Aldi to Wegmans, grocery chains continue to commit to reducing plastic packaging as consumer interest in sustainability grows.
The topic has been a high-interest one in the produce industry given the prevalence of plastic packaging and the many ways its use benefits shoppers — in particular allowing for visibility of the product, maintaining its quality and extending its shelf life.
In the Food Marketing Institute’s annual Power of Produce report, most consumers ranked those functional attributes as more important to them than packaging being environmentally friendly.
77% said it is very important packaging allow them to see the product; 62% said it is very important packaging make items last longer; and 47% said it is very important packaging be environmentally friendly.
While that certainly doesn’t mean shoppers don’t care about sustainable packaging, it does indicate there are other factors that they prize and that must be taken into account.
With sustainability such a hot topic, however, various retailers are looking to get rid of plastic where they can.
Wegmans recently announced it aims to cut back in-store plastic packaging by 2 million pounds in 2019, with plans to achieve a 10 million-pound reduction by 2024.
The company has done away with plastic straws and drink stir sticks, switching to fiber alternatives, according to a news release.
“We’re taking measurable steps to improve and implement programs that increase our recycling rate, minimize waste and help make a difference in every community we serve,” Jason Wadsworth, Wegmans packaging and sustainability manager, said in the release. “One area we’re paying particular attention to is packaging. We need to ensure packaging is functional and performs as expected, which is key to reducing food waste. But it must also use materials efficiently and responsibly and be recyclable whenever possible.”
Similarly, Aldi laid out a series of plastic reduction goals in early April.
It plans to make all its packaging — including plastic — reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. The company also expects to reduce packaging overall by at least 15% in that time frame.
In addition, Aldi will have How2Recycle labels on all its own-brand consumable packaging by 2020. The company will also put in place an initiative to make private-label packaging easier for shoppers to reuse.
“The commitments we’re making to reduce plastic packaging waste are an investment in our collective future that we are proud to make,” Aldi U.S. CEO Jason Hart said in a news release.
Kroger recently provided an update on its Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative and noted its decision to eliminate single-use plastic grocery bags from all its stores by 2025, along with listing numerous other waste-diversion and recycling accomplishments.
Walmart, which held its annual sustainability summit in April, also emphasized reducing plastics, announcing it would for the first time offer reusable bags at its checkouts.
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