FACT CHECK The claim: “Plastic packaging increases food waste” BACKGROUND In February, sustainability charity WRAP, which works closely with the plastics sector on many positive initiatives, published a study exploring food waste. The Guardian, and other outlets, have picked up on the report and run with headlines denouncing packaging (specifically plastic packaging) as a direct cause of food waste. Unfortunately, this headline is misleading, and readers may be tempted to take it at face value, which gives cause for concern, given the preservatory and hygiene properties that plastic packaging offers. Especially since what the study actually found, was that food sold pre-packaged can lead to a consumer tendency to buy more than is required – which in turn can lead to food waste. And it’s worth noting that in theory, this consumer trend could apply to other types of food packaging (i.e. non-plastic). REACTION For the plastics community, this type of headline is another disappointing example of industry being asked to shoulder the full burden of consumer behaviour – and furthermore, taking the blame for it. Responding to the report, the British Plastics Federation said: “Plastic packaging is rightly understood to reduce food waste and ultimately carbon emissions and although we respect the motivation behind this study, it is important to understand that its focus was solely on a small number of fresh food items and their lifespan within the home. In reality, many fresh products travel hundreds if not thousands of miles on their journey from farm to fork, so a form of packaging is required to protect and preserve them – and plastic packaging still excels at this due to being lightweight, strong and providing a moisture barrier (extending a product’s overall lifespan), in addition to other unique benefits.” “Wrap’s summary report recommends to 'sell loose unless it can be shown that plastic packaging reduces overall food waste' – but we respectfully suggest that calculation should account for the entire journey of the product, rather than simply within the home. Whilst we acknowledge that food waste is most significant in the home, it still occurs in-store and during a product’s journey along the wider supply chain. In addition to preserving food, plastic packaging also provides an extra degree of hygiene and a way to trace its origin.”
For the plastics community, this type of headline is another disappointing example of industry being asked to shoulder the full burden of consumer behaviour. www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk
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