Vegetables: From soil to sealed

Remember when you used to pick your own vegetables at the supermarket, put them in a plastic bag, then take them to the counter to be weighed?

Apparently this practice is not convenient, hygienic, protective or appealing enough for modern supermarkets and shoppers. The idea of putting vegetables in a plastic tray, sealing the top with plastic film and bar-coding the package is becoming more widespread. It started with 'boutique' vegetables like imported mange tout, but nowadays even the most mundane vegetable gets the over-packaging treatment. We found plenty of examples at Sainsbury's:

Mange tout offer a classic example of the tray/clingfilm treatment. We are so used to seeing mange tout like this that we don't even notice it's abnormal!


Next comes the triple: sugarsnap, babycorn and 'tenderstem', all in separate compartments. But the 'tenderstem' moniker can't hide the fact that broccoli has been cunningly elevated to 'tray/clingfilm' status. A worrying trend!


'Casserole selection pack' - what's going on here? Since when did parsnips, carrots and potatoes need the protection of a ridged plastic tray?


And here you have it: the most mundane vegetable of all gets packaged! For centuries, potatoes had made their way from field to kitchen with no more protection than their own skins. But now JS Sainsbury has felt it necessary that they be separated into pairs and safely tucked into plastic trays.


I'm sorry to say this, Mr Sainsbury, but promoting recycling does not make up for this kind of waste. Most of these unnecessary plastic trays will end up as landfill. Even those that are sorted and recycled will waste energy in manufacture, transport and recycling. Keep it simple: get rid of the packaging!

TotallyWasted.org