The average store has 42,300 items in them and the average size of the stores are 45,000 Square Feet. I still can not find many stores that really have options to reduce packaging. Everywhere I walk I see Plastic bottles, Plastic Wrappers on Cheese and other dairy items….While a few companies like
are dipping their toes into the ” green solutions” pool…..most manufacturers and retailers seem to be on the sidelines. On my trips to Europe, I continue to be impressed with less prepackaging on consumer goods. At the same time hats off to retailers like Sprouts, Henry’s and Sunflower for trying to lead with bulk products.
For the last 40 years the natural foods industry has focused on ingredients. This has been a noble effort and today we are seeing the benefits of healthier foods with no trans fats and artificial ingredients. All said and done very few have spent time on packaging…..while plastic bags have become the poster child of the eco-friendly story…..we need to see what can be done to reduce transportation of foods….( average product travels 1,500 miles to get to your table) so think local when you can. With summer fast approaching the farmers markets are opening with vast offerings of their local bounty. This week I have eaten so strawberries and the taste has been outstanding…today I am going to have some fresh local lettuce….
Secondly, its time to say no to packaging. Even Wal-Mart is showing how less cardboard in packaging is good for everyone….next stop we need to talk about plastic….Its time to push back and ask
for some alternatives. As we are watching the events transpire in the gulf….we need to look at every possible way to reduce our dependence on oil….and while cars are the biggest issue….what about packaging. A plastic bottle here, a plastic yogurt cup there all make a landfill fill up really fast. While some are trying to recycle plastics the reality is the life of a recycled plastic product has a end game of the landfill. Downcycling is what ultimately happens when something is recycled into another object only to be land filled. Keep in my only 10 % of plastic is recycled….the rest ….the rest is a waste of our resources.