Anti-plastic bill leaves fresh produce unprotected

Fresh produce producers the world over are facing stringent regulation on packaging as governments aim to reduce plastic waste. The jury is however still out on how food quality and safety will be maintained without protection through packaging.

The European Parliament voted in late November to adopt a bill that would see big reductions in packaging, while encouraging more reuse and recycling. Overall packaging reduction targets equate to 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. The proposal also allows for an increase in the targets for plastic by an additional 5% over each period.

The new rules require that all packaging should be recyclable, fulfilling strict criteria to be defined through secondary legislation.

Certain temporary exemptions are foreseen, for example for wood and wax food packaging. EU countries will also be required to ensure that 90% of materials contained in packaging (plastic, wood, ferrous metals, aluminium, glass, paper and cardboard) are collected separately by 2029.

Belgian member of the European Parliament Frédérique Ries commented that the legislation aligned environmental ambitions with industrial reality.

According to Eurostat, packaging waste in the EU-27 was 84 million tons in 2021, up from 66 million tons in 2009. Without intervention, the per-capita packaging waste in the EU is predicted to rise from 188,7kg recorded in 2021 to 209kg by 2030.

Packaging reduction regulations have been met by strong criticism. Siropack, a packaging company in the EU, showcased fresh fruit and vegetables in a toilet and bidet at a recent event. Some produce was in plastic packaging, while others were not.

Owner of the company, Rocco De Lucia, challenged showgoers to indicate which of the produce they would eat if given the choice.

“This is what happens every day in supermarkets. People touch fruit and vegetables and you don’t know if their hands are clean or not. I have been travelling all over the world for 30 years and I’ve never seen consumers using gloves. So fruit and vegetables without protection can be contaminated in all sorts of ways,” said De Lucia.

He pointed to the hypocrisy of the European system for advocating for people to wear plastic face shields during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to stop the spread of germs, but did not want fresh produce wrapped in plastic to prevent its contamination.

“The EU forgets that the introduction of packaging for agri-food products not only allowed an increase in shelf life and therefore a reduction in waste, but above all protection against potential external contamination,” De Lucia added.

LINDI BOTHA The EU has approved legislation that will reduce packaging for fresh produce in an attempt to reduce plastic waste. Individually wrapped peppers like those pictured here will soon be a thing of the past.