Should supermarkets stop giving us so much rubbish?

Question

councils want us to put less rubbish in our bins. where do we get the rubbish from? supermarkets excessive packaging

Answer 1

If they taxed packaging it would help reduce it a lot.

Answer 2

Yes they should but we also have choices i put my vegetables straight into my trolley i do not put them in the plastic bags provided. It things are too delicate to put straight into the trolley such as tomatoes i put them into the paper bags that are provided for the mushrooms. I buy toilet rolls that are wrapped in paper and not plastic although this works out more expensive as they only come in 2s. Some items are only available in prepacked plastic such as already mentioned tooth brushes, ink cartridges etc for them the manufacturers and super markets are jointly responsible.

Answer 3

We shouldn't just blame stores for the trash problem. We buy the products. By choosing to purchase products with less packaging, we will control the products that are available in stores. Money talks and, to large corporations, the "bottom line" is all that matters. Let's make a statement with our purchases!

Answer 4

Much of that packaging is necessary to protect the product during shipping and stocking when it tends to be treated pretty roughly (and also to ensure it hasn't been tampered with).

Unwrapping things at the checkout would delay other customers and should not be allowed (though maybe the supermarkets could set aside a special line for those who want to pay for the privilege).

Answer 5

you have the power if we all stop buying the products with excess packing and other rubbish the manufactures will get the message if there products are not selling they will change .If people continue to but the over packaged products it will be continued made that way

Answer 6

I agree, I wanted to enjoy some quality time with some toddlers in a supermarket cafe and the amount of wrapping!  I brought it home and will reuse the items, but wondered why this happens.  I thought the reason why it is costly is due to the work involved, like good ol' washing up.

Answer 7

The direct solution is to return to the vendor all the packaging they include with their sales.

One just walks in with their carry out bag full of packaging and leave it in the aisle.

Of course this will have no benefit unless many people do it.

Answer 8

I have managed to greatly reduce the amount of packaging I bring into my home.

The 1st change was to get reusable bags, not just for the groceries, but small pull string bags to put produce and bulk items into.

The 2nd change was to buy as much fresh as possible, I go to a farmers market for most of my produce and meat, if I have to buy it at the store I go to the butcher counter for meat so I don't have to bring home the styrofoam (plus I know when I get it home it won't be brown on the underside).

The 3rd change was embrace the bulk aisle, for some reason many people have an aversion to the open bins of items. I can buy many of the over packaged items there, pasta, rice, cereals, cookies, candies, as well as flour, sugar and other snacks.

I also look at how things are packaged, I usually buy bakery bread which is only wrapped in paper, I have switched my sandwich bread to a brand that only uses one layer of plastic, and wrote to the company I used to use and told them I prefer their product, but won't buy them until they reduce their packaging. I rarely buy boxes of food, things like prepared pasta kits, or cake mixes, they are full of chemicals and preservatives, so I make things myself.

For an American family of 3 with 2 dogs I ususlly have about 2-3 20 gallon garbage bags a week, compaired to my neighbor which fills 2 90 gallon garbage cans to the top each week.  

Answer 9

You can't just blame it on supermarkets. Manufacturers are to blame also. I agree strongly that they over package everything. How can you justify being an environmentally aware supermarker chain and produce so much waste...

Makes no sense...

Answer 10

Good on you!  I do that at supermarkets - just leave them with all the totally unnecessary packaging.  Most people at supermarkets are OK with it.  But I am trying to find places where I can buy the basics etc with no packaging, or very little.  I have found several places, but they are all more expensive than supermarkets.  However, their stuff is local, and organic, so I put up with paying a bit more.  The good thing, of course, is that I am eating less.  Well, I eat what I need to, and no more.

Answer 11

Stop shopping at supermarkets, support your local shops and markets. And if you are worried it will cost you more, you may well find like me, that although the prices are often higher you wont spend so much, coz you dont get so trapped into buying stuff you dont really want or need.

Answer 12

As someone said above, it isn't entirely the supermarkets' fault; it's the manufacturers.  However, some are doing better.  I've been doing a lot of my shopping at Sprouts (a supermarket that carries a lot of organic produce, if you're not familiar with it).  They offer a lot of items in bulk, which you can bag yourself in recyclable plastic bags.  I'm not just talking about fruit and vegetables.  They have bulk cereals, nuts, grains, even spices.  That's a step in the right direction.

Answer 13

The only thing that could really be considered the supermarkets fault, would be anything that they make, and wrap up themselves.  Anything else, should be blamed on the manufacturers.