Will you start taking off the wrapping at the checkout?

Question

There is far too much plastic going to landfill because of everything being over wrapped. Will you join in taking off the wrapping at the checkout so the supermarkets chains get the message? Of course buy the cheaper bag of carrots, but then take them out the bag AT THE CHECKOUT. You get the bargain, the managers at the top will get the message. Win, win situation for you and the environment. Don't say you can't because of embarrasment, because if little me (5'1'') can do it and others I know do and we all start to...

Answer 1

And this saves plastic how?

Different bin, same rubbish.

I get the concept, but isn't it just a HUGE hassle?

Answer 2

true that sounds good..

SAVE THE PLANET

Answer 3

I think that its the only way to go

Answer 4

i'm going to start now it has government approval!

i shall leave a spare 15 minutes to do it. in fact i might start doing it as i go round, save my frozen stuff defrosting while i much about. they might have to employ another kid on min. wage to tidy up hehehehehe

edit;

go for it sensible! i am inspired, i am going to do it too next time i do the tesbury's run.

i'm not yer average women's institute type, it will be interesting to see who complains and who joins in. :-)

Answer 5

I agree with the priniciple but is this really going to work?

Answer 6

I already do this. Quite often other customers follow suit. The shop staff are usually okay with it, but the managers don't approve! When a manager has challenged me about it my response has been, provide me with goods that don't have non-biodegradable packaging and I will buy them. Until then you can keep and dispose of the rubbish.

This also has implications for when we are forced to start paying for the rubbish we put out in our dustbins. (UK)

Manufacturers need to start using biodegradable materials but they won't do so until it costs them not to!

Answer 7

the shops to react to people power but it is much more likely to have an effect if you buy the items already lose.

to be honest the big supermarkets have their guidelines and reasons for using excessive amounts of wrappiung and they will do as they please.

vote with your feet and dont buy over packaged items as you can without at very little price difference.

at least when you take the packaging home you know it'll be recycled and disposed of correctly, there are no facilities to clear up what you leave at the till so it causes an annoyance, needs to be tidied up (at a cost) and the recyclable items will probably get binned with the rest...going against what your trying to achieve

Answer 8

It's a good idea.  My stomach churns at the idea of fossil oil, millions of years old, being drilled, processed, turned into plastic and then promptly thrown out without a second thought.  What a waste.

Like with mushrooms, we could use paper or waxed paper bags.  or we could just take the fruit and veg home in a string bag...hang on, didn't people do that in the past?

Sigh...

Answer 9

A brilliant notion !

I will not be embarrased to copy your fine example, the ones that should feel guilty are the manufactureres, wholesalers & retailers.

I shall apologise if I slightly bung the works up at checkout, but point out that it is not my fault.

I am no great activist in this area,but I've in the past put all loose veg such as carrots, spuds, onions, etc all into my supermarket cotton bag, and said "sort that lot out"

They did, then asked me if I wanted it all in seperate plastic bags !

I despair !

Answer 10

Well, you'd probably get chucked out of the shop and anyway I wouldn't have time to stand there unpacking, while I'm packing.  But I do agree, everything is overpacked.  It's like the 4 pack of Tescos "finest" apples on a styrofoam base shrink wrapped in plastic then overlaid with a hard plastic case.....I mean.....they're apples!!!

Answer 11

Doesn't matter much, because I recycle plastic at home anyway (and in the supermarket, it just goes into regular bins).

If you do take off the packaging infront of them, I'd advise that:

- You don't delay people behind

- You do it so they actually know why you're doing it (or you'll look a bit daft)

Its a good principle though.

Answer 12

I go along with the view that the plastic has to go somewhere, so what I do, instead of putting my bin for collection out each week, is to save plastic refuse bags by taking a pair of scissors to packing trays, sandwich cases etc.

M&S gave me a 'plastic bag for life' today, and if things go the way both M&S and I are hoping, that will be my last plastic bag ever. WHOOPEEE!!

Answer 13

Never really though of doing it!

But it is a good idea.  I try to purchase items that are out of a bag.

I put fruit and veg in a seperate basket, then have them weighed and put them in my shopping bag!  No waste at all.

But i do agree that too much packaging is used.

I must say bravo to Asda though, they are stopping providing plastic bags next week.

Yeah, three cheers for Asda, hip hip hooray x 3

Pippa

Answer 14

Might I suggest an alternative.  Save all the excess wrappings in a separate container at home and when you return to the shop deposit the wrappers in their trash.  I agree more trash equals less profit.

Answer 15

I already do this, though I tend to shop more at smaller, local shops than supermarkets, and buy loose fruit ad veg anyway.

When I am in the supermarket, I take off any pointlessly excessive wrapping and just leave it at the end of the till counter - never had a problem doing it yet, and it's surprising how much useless rubbish can be left behind each time.

Answer 16

Better idea. Take all the wrappings off when you get home and next time you shop, take them back to the supermarket. At least this way you won't annoy the people in the checkout queue behind you.