Like the two sides of a coin, as public concern has grown surrounding the plastic packaging in supermarkets over the past year and more action is being taken, it's just as important that its removal needs to be executed carefully in order to avoid growing food waste.
That was the verdict from the Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) latest survey (released on 5 November) - it shows that despite some progress taken place, retailers still "need to do more" to cut down on food waste, but the charity has emphasised that the plastic reduction had to be carried out carefully. To help cut down on the amount of plastic packaging that is actually used, WRAP has also updated their guidance on applying the date labels, and on the packaging choices for fresh produce.
The Retail Survey indicates to what extent the UK's largest grocery retailers have actually "made progress in implementing best-practice guidance on date labels, product life, pack size and storage/freezing advice".
WRAP, in total, visited nearly sixty supermarkets and examined 2,000 food products - this gave a representation of those most frequently wasted in UK homes. Looking at the positives, WRAP has explained that a quarter of all pre-packed unprepared fresh produce now carries no date label - this correctly aligns to its current guidance. Three of the retailers have removed the best before on some products, with another committing to remove them from just selected produce. The survey also found that almost all products had the correct storage advice, and WRAP's Little Blue Fridge Logo has increased in its prominence - this helps to indicate when food stays fresher for longer when it is refrigerated at home.
WRAP has said that improvements can still be made as "little evidence was found of retailers having implemented guidance to remove open life statements except where food safety is an issue". To take an example for hard cheese, the average available life for a block of cheddar was 64 days, but then 90% of packs carried advice to use within either 5 or 7 days of opening. On top of this, more than 70% of fresh potatoes carry a Best Before label, and the average available product life on them has decreased by around one day - to four days.
The Director at WRAP, Peter Maddox has commented on the latest data, stating, "The way food and drink is packaged, labelled and priced can influence household food waste, and retailers and brands are uniquely placed to help minimise food waste in the home. Our research shows that people want clear, consistent information on pack to help them keep food fresher for longer. Overall we've seen food progress from all, but we have also been very clear with each company where more work is required, and where they are falling short."
They have also updated their guidance on applying date labels and packaging choices for fresh produce, the most wasted food category present in the home. The guidance has been produced by the following:
It is expected to significantly reduce the UK's annual food waste bill. The measures include having a range of pack sizes and formats, including a loose one, which can help to reduce food and packaging waste, by giving the customers the opportunity to purchase the correct amount of items for their needs. On the updated guidance, Mr Maddox has added, "Public concern has grown over plastic packaging since our last survey, particularly around fresh produce, and we have updated our guide to address single-use, problematic plastics in this category. Removal of packaging must be done carefully to avoid food waste, and we now have a clear set of principles that will help to limit plastic use, and ensure removal is done in a safe and sustainable way."
He continued, "The other significant development we recommend removing Best Before dates from uncut fresh produce where this doesn't risk increasing food waste, and the guidance helps this decision-making."
