Most shoppers who purchase packaged goods from the supermarket console themselves with the fact that they can recycle much of the materials, but this is a band-aid solution. To get to the heart of the problem one must avoid packaging to begin with.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: ecowarriorprincess.net

Our addiction to single use packaging has become an epidemic.

It can be wrapped, sealer or vacuum packed, regardless these waste promoting consumable systems have become part of our daily lives.

Packaging goes back a long way. Animal skins, leaves, ceramics, glass and tin have been used through the years to transport and preserve our foodstuff.

Then plastic was invented! Following this and since the end of the second world war we have become far more comfortable with this style of ‘throwaway living’.

Through the year the consequences of this way of this life are now very obvious on our planet.

Contaminated eco systems and damage to wildlife and our own human health have become widespread and highly visible.

Most of the packaging waste generated comes from food and drink packaging. In recent times we have become very conscious of recycling in the West but in honesty this is not an adequate solution to deal with the scale of plastic waste.

In Australia just 11.8% of the 3.5 million tonnes of used plastic were recycled from 2016/17.

Drastic action is what is needed!

Resistance from all parties can be strong at first. Consumers are used to convenience. Brands have to make extra investment. Packaging companies must adapt their solutions. Evidence shows though that at least the consumer is able to adapt relatively quickly when they understand the message behind the change.

The two biggest supermarkets in Australia recently started to phase out single use bulk bags .With these large shopping bags being replaced after just 3 months an estimated 1.5 billion large carrier bags have been stopped from entering the ecosystem. A fact the supermarkets are keen to share with their customers.

Independent Zero packaging food stores have become a great example for the larger chains. They are challenging the perception that individual packaging is necessary in the modern food industry. Not so! They say.