Try not to buy a single thing from any major supermarket, grow your own, support independent retailers, use box schemes etc It means less packaging, more money for local communities and re-engages consumers with food provenance.
This is a challenging goal, but not impossible!I will try my best...
It does sounds like a bit of a rant doesnt it? I think we need to look at it in the spirit of contraction & convergence, i.e. those with the biggest footprints (i.e. us wealthy westerners) reduce our footprints while we should expect others (poorer & developing world) to want to increase their footprint by some degree. I'm lucky because I am able to grow my own food and can afford to buy from my local whole food shop, butcher etc and I know thats not an option for lots of people. On the other hand I have to confess I'm also involved with 383ppm, a consultancy whose work with a large apple supplier to a large supermarket means apples from their new orchard will have a footprint 85% lower than those on the shelf today. I guess the aim should be to reduce the retailers influence but also help them be greener...?
Yup, I agree totally!!
I'm all for PARTLY going back to the times of our Grannies, when people bought stuff with refillable containers and bottles (and were generally more self-sufficient)! If large retailers offered some sort of discount to people bringing their own reusable refillable containers (it does save money and effort on packaging or wrapping things up!) they could thus reduce CO2 too! (avoid unnecessary plastics and CO2 emissions connected with both production and landfill/incineration)
And for transport, a lot can be done! (more local orchards, trains instead of small trucks..)
It would also be great to have some sort of unified EU/worldwide standards on what organic means & more transparency re: chemicals used etc. so consumers would know exactly what they're buying.. (as it is some 'non-organic' stuff may actually be healthier than some imported so-called 'organic'!)
Of course if they do all that, it's important for people to show them support & actually buy from them this way so the 'ordinary consumers' would be inspired also.. (some PR campaigns would probably be in order too.. I mean, who dares to buy cheese in a plastic container?;) of course emphasizing the hierarchy of priority.. 1. ideally buy organic, buy locally 2. if impossible, buy green or as green as you can..
I think it's AMAZING you're doing the consultancy & that the new apples will have so much less footprint!!
Pedro, will you PLEASE look at this link: http://myzerowaste.com/2009/02/excessive-supermarket-food-packaging-is-undermining-householders-efforts-to-recycle/
Also look at all the comments!! (I'm there too)
A bunch of people are ENFURIATED at the number of plastic packaging they MUST buy if they only want eco bananas - or even a coconut!!
What could be done about this?
/And how are your talks with the supermarkets on this progressing?/ Please TELL!!
You already have a market and audience in us (wannabe) 'zero waste-ers'!!
I'd LOVE to buy eco/organic fruit & veggies, but here it's all shrink-wrapped!!
