UK – A recent study commissioned by DS Smith reveals that 51% of food and drink products in UK supermarkets are encased in unnecessary plastic packaging.
According to the study’s findings, this equates to approximately 29.8 billion pieces of avoidable plastic being used annually across the country.
Retail Economics conducted the research, which analyzed 1,500 food and beverage items from the top five food retailers in six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the UK.
The findings revealed that the UK has the highest reliance on plastic packaging, with 70% of food and drink products using plastic, compared to 67% in Spain.
The majority of unnecessary plastic use stems from processed foods such as ready meals, meal kits, bread, rice, and cereals.
The study found that 90% of processed food items were overpackaged, with bread, rice, and cereals accounting for 89% of excess plastic, followed closely by dairy products (83%) and meat and fish (80%).
The research highlights a significant gap between corporate commitments and actual progress in reducing plastic packaging.
A related survey of European food manufacturers and retailers revealed that nearly all respondents (98%) pledged to reduce plastic use.
However, 60% of them have two years or less to meet their voluntary targets, and 25% admitted they were falling behind.
Cost and consumer acceptance were identified as the primary barriers to reducing plastic use. Around 40% of respondents cited the high cost of raw materials as a major challenge, while 39% expressed concern about how consumers would react to new packaging solutions.
Furthermore, 72% of respondents believed that customers would reject higher prices for sustainable packaging, and 65% felt that convenience would continue to outweigh sustainability in consumer decisions.
Miles Roberts, DS Smith’s Group Chief Executive, acknowledged the progress made but emphasized that more needs to be done.
“Government can and should demand more of us all – phasing out certain plastics to create a level playing field that encourages innovation, investment, and generates healthy competition to replace plastic,” he said.
The Material Change Index sheds light on the scale of unnecessary plastic use in the UK’s retail sector and highlights the need for stronger action from both businesses and governments to meet sustainability goals.
The findings underscore the challenges posed by cost and consumer behavior but also point to the urgency of reducing plastic waste in the food and drink industry.
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