Ways to cut down on using plastic bags

WITH practically everything we buy from the supermarket packed in plastic bags, it’s hard to avoid using them. That means tons of plastic gets used one time, only to be thrown away.

It’s a disaster for the environment – and it’s also mostly unnecessary. Follow these simple tips to lower your grocery plastic consumption:

Choose paper bags Many retailers now offer bags made of paper, or even corn starch or sugar cane.

While these are not ideal alternatives, Germany’s Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) said they’re more biodegradable than plastic. But these alternatives still release many climate-damaging gases.

Bring reusable bags Use your own fabric bags for shopping. Or, if you forget your reusable bag one time and end up having to take some plastic bags home, reuse these bags.

Since making a single fabric bag is more harmful to the environment than making one disposable bag, wash fabric bags regularly to keep them clean and useable for longer.

Use crochet bags for fruit Lots of supermarkets supply small cellophane bags for fruit and vegetables. These, too, can be replaced quite easily.

The BZfE recommends bringing along extra linen or crocheted bags for packing fresh produce.

That way, you won’t have to bring out all the tomatoes individually at the cash register.

At the deli counter Often, hygiene regulations mean supermarkets will refuse to put deli sausages or cheeses in containers customers bring from home. This is because nothing that the customer brings may enter the area behind the counter.

There is, however, a solution: the BZfE recommends customers to put a plastic container on top of the counter and ask the seller to put the goods into it.

Alternatively, you can suggest putting the container on a tray, so that only the buyer has actually touched it.

Set an example Many groceries in the supermarket are packed in plastic. If it is not always possible to avoid wrapped food, at least choose packaging made of glass, paper or cardboard.

The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) recommends leaving the outer packaging behind in the shop.

Supermarkets must provide appropriate collection boxes for this purpose. – dpa