Plans to ban supermarkets from using plastic packaging across a large swathe of fruit & veg products have overwhelming support from the public, Wrap has told the government.
The climate change body, which has called for legislation from ministers to ban plastic on more than 20 common items, including apples, bananas and oranges, claimed the majority of consumers preferred to buy loose products when they were given the option.
However, Wrap’s later figures show just 19% of fruit & veg is currently sold without plastic.
It is calling on ministers to introduce regulation to force companies to sell more fresh produce loose. Other products such as onions, limes and salad tomatoes are among those it wants included.
Wrap claims selling the products loose could save 100,000 tonnes of edible fruit & vegetables from being wasted annually in people’s homes, as well as saving 13,000 tonnes of plastic film.
The findings come as Wrap launched this year’s Food Waste Action Week, fronted by author, chef and campaigner Max La Manna.
Wrap says each year in UK homes 510,000 tonnes of potatoes are binned, representing 46% of all potatoes bought.
La Manna said: “It floors me that we are throwing away so many potatoes every year before we have had chance to use them.
“Buying them loose would allow us to choose an amount we know we’d realistically use, whether that is one giant potato for baking or a few smaller ones to make mash, and this goes for all fruit & veg.
“It is fantastic to partner with Love Food Hate Waste on this campaign and shout about the impact of food waste on both the planet and our pockets.”
A Wrap spokeswoman said: “We need legislation in this area to drive significant change, as per our policy recommendation paper, and we are engaging with Defra on this topic.
“In addition, we are working with UK Food & Drink Pact signatories and industry more broadly to map what is working where, and working to increase citizens’ awareness of the benefits of buying loose and readiness for the potential change.”
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