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MINISTER DENIS NAUGHTEN has written to all supermarket CEOs calling on them to reduce their use of non-recyclable plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables.
The letter, seen by TheJournal.ie, was sent to all the major supermarket chains operating in Ireland, asking them to set out what measures they could introduce to minimise the use of non-recyclable plastic packaging of fruit and veg.
Naughten is currently considering a range of environmental levies on non-recyclable, single-use plastic products, such as a ‘latte levy’ on non-compostable coffee cups and plastic cutlery.
Last year, he also announced that plans were underway to introduce large-scale recycling bins outside supermarkets in a bid to tackle waste at source.
Before any such measures are introduced, Naughten said he wants to hear suggestions from supermarket bosses about what could be done to reduce waste.
In the letter, which was sent to supermarkets such as Lidl, Tesco and Aldi, the minister highlighted that the European Commission’s Plastic Strategy proposes new laws be introduced to ensure that all plastic packaging on the EU market can be reused and recycled by 2030.
Naughten said supermarket industry action would be welcome at this point, particularly in areas of product design, and where new, innovative ideas could be proposed to solve the problem of the scourge of non-recyclable plastics.
The minister wrote the letter following a visit to Newtown Park School in Dublin, which has become the first plastic-free school in Ireland.
During his visit to the school, he said the students called on him to eradicate the use of plastic packaging on fruit and veg.
In the letter, he told supermarket CEOs that the students told him that the majority of packaging is removed straight away and put in the bin.
The minister said he expected supermarket chains to respond to his letter with ideas around the development of a new policy for plastic packaging.
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The fact that supermarkets have already announced plans to reduce plastic waste privides Naughten the perfect opportunity to announce this request and then claim success when they follow through on their plans.
Typical.
@The Quare Fella: Right from the Bruton playbook. See what teachers are doing well and claim credit for it.
@B Ó Raghallaigh:
Someone I know worked as a CFO for a subsidiary of a multi national here who with IDA backing won a big R&D contract from HQ. It was set to employ 50 people and cost x million.
The IDA insisted on handling the PR and announced it as 75 jobs and xx million.
I remember her reaction, it started with “Over my dead body will it cost…..”
2030 is a long time away; I think this deadline should be brought forward. The pressure needs to be put on food producers now to look into their packaging. The school is Newpark in Dublin, not Newtown Park, by the way. It’s very encouraging to see such awareness from the next generation.
So what if someone mauled the carrots. They get peeled and usually boiled before they are consumed. I wash all my fruit before I eat it with the exception of bananas and oranges for obvious reasons.
It’s about time this was stopped at source and not at the end line. Individual households being told to recycle tons of totally unnecessary packaging, much of which is harmful to our environment.
some of these same people are selling inflatable pools during a water shortage , You need laws not calls …
They even sell knives….how irresponsible of them.
@Dáithí: A pool filled with water is (almost literally) a drop in the ocean in terms of national water use. It seems a lot because it’s a lot for a household, but there are businesses, as we speak, that will waste hundreds times that must this morning. We really need to stop guiltomg ourselves for every little bit of enjoyment we get out of life.
The CEO’s should write back. Stop wasting taxpayers money and claiming exorbitant political expenses.
@Adrian: so let’s ignore the damage plastic is doing to the environment?
Crazy the amount of cling film and other plastic supermarkets use,such as wrapping bananas and passion fruit in cling film and dragon fruits amongst others.
They should also change how they package their meat as currently this is all packaged in plastic.
I saw a supermarket in spain selling frozen vegetables (peas, chopped carrots, broccoli etc) loose. Similar to a pick and mix set up. Another way to eliminate plastic from the food industry.
@HonDeDeise: how do you get them home though seriously? Was there a plastic bag or a cardboard box provided?
@HonDeDeise: were they not all stuck together??
Musgraves are the problem. They wrap just about everything in plastic to force you to buy amounts you dont need. This must stop!!
He’s calling on them why not bring in a law and insist. Law brought in this week 125 fine for using hose in this weather. The sun has only been out three weeks. When there’s money to be made no problem bring in a law. By the way agree with the fine
The supermarket bosses must be shaking in there boots.
@Martin Sinnott: Lidl have started selling loose fruit and veg as a result of the anti plastics trend.
@Dermot Lane: meanwhile in Aldi they have swapped the netted bags on the onions for plastic!
This packaging of fruit and vegetables is the most annoying practice. I cannot understand why produce cannot be left in cardboard boxes and you pick what u want. Sometimes i want one lemon one lime and one orange for example and i am forced to take 4or 6. I am not mean i have a small family and prefer to buy little and often . I am also left with plastic wrap and tray or plastic box. Its totally unnecessary.
@Loretta stiletto: It is unnecessary. I’d buy them loose. I like to choose the best, not bring home five good apples sealed in plastic with one rotten one.
The amount of plastic generated from a normal family shop is scandalous and completely unwarranted. It should just be banned outright, particulary as so many of the soft plastics are not recyclable anymore. There should also be legislation introduced about the volume of packaging for food products. You buy something and it takes up 50% of the packaging size at most in an attempt to make it look like you’re buying more then you actually are. No plastics and max packaging of 10% more then the volume of the product. They have done this to great effect in some African countries. Response of ministers in thone countries? Let businesses sort out the problems of the transition, they are the ones profiting so they can sort it out. We make laws to help the people. Refreshing approach.
This is rubbish. Fruit and veg uncovered get sneezed on and sometimes mauled by unclean hands. Most fruit and veg in a paper bag gets bruised by handling or knocking off objects. Fruit is bulky and veg is a vector for hosts carrying infection until it’s peeled and washed. The local veg shop has the best idea they pack fruit and veg into a plastic bag not a plastic carton. I think this idiot knows nothing about the research that has gone into handling fruit and vegetables or how best to carry home . Politicians in the Dail have no vision if this is what they are thinking about. Plastic originates from a polymer pelt it can be recycled back to that.
@Robin Tobin: Fruit is wrapped because shops think it looks more presentable in that format than loose fruit but they’ve lost the run of themselves with the packaging. I’m sure if packaging was banned then reusable fruit bags for life would be a solution. Obviously then if you are worried about your fruit being contaminated wash it in clean water before eating it. You probably should be doing this anyway.
@Robin Tobin: Your comment confuses me; supermarkets need plastic packaging to protect fruit and veg from sneezes and dirty hands, but a fruit and veg shop doesn’t? You should be washing most fruit and veg anyway to remove pesticides. Why not bring your own cloth bag? What extra benefit does a plastic bag provide? Not all plastics are recyclable and cling film and the other plastic covers they use on packaging can’t be recycled either, so for this reason the government needs to ban them. We existed for a long time without them, so with a little more thought, they could be avoided.
@Lorna McC: There is a ridiculous amount of unnecessary plastic on some meat products.
@Robin Tobin: ridiculous, have u ever seen the markets abroad, not a bit if plastic to be seen. fruit and veg are stacked high and you choose what u want. In france shoppers feel, smell and look carefully at there produce before they purchase. Wash and peel your produce. Yes people sneeze and there is dust and pest everywhere. What did people do years ago? Nobody died from dust or greenfly .
‘Minister calls on….’
‘Minister legislates on’ is what we want to see. That’s why we pay him, after all.
Extremely lame effort. It definitely *should* be completely illegal to produce non bio-degradable or recycling packaging but at the very least they can legislate to impose disincentives to doing so. Asking politely by letter or other means is likely a PR stunt and will quite obviously have zero affect.
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