We know what a lot of you Pandas are like. You care about Mother Earth and its delicious bamboo groves, lush forests, and comfy nooks and crannies where you can nap. So you recycle. You also cycle to work instead of driving your Pandamobile. And you buy products that are more eco-friendly and use less plastic. Because every little step really does matter.
But let’s face it, if you’re like us, sometimes when you walk into a grocery store you might lose hope when you spot just how much unnecessary packaging is used to pack some food products. And by unnecessary packaging, we mean U n N e C e S s A r Y to the point that you feel all of your environmentally friendly actions suddenly mean very little when faced with systemic issues on an industrial scale.
We wanted to show you just how plastically insane things can get, so our bamboo-loving Bored Panda team hiked all through the internet wilds to bring you the most egregious examples of wasteful food packaging. Have a scroll down below, upvote the pics that made you want to throw your recycling bin at somebody, and let us know how you feel about all of this plastic waste in the comments.
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Ridiculously Redundant Over-Packaging
Idiot customers looking for seafood can't find them otherwise? Hm.
Load More Replies...Hong Kong Supermarket Selling Individually Plastic Wrapped And Boxed Strawberry. For $21. One Strawberry
Okay, this is the world's most expensive strawberry packaged for valentines day. It's wasteful as heck, and apparently not really all that special taste wise. The company who produced the strawberry tried to justify the cost and the packaging, but it's just a strawberry.
While it doesn't justify the waste, fruit in Japan is very expensive due to limited agricultural space suitable to produce fruit. Not quite this expensive, but expensive. I suspect Hong Kong suffers this issue to an even greater extent and must import most of their fruit. I suspect the fact that fruit is in limited supply in Japan contributes to Japanese fruit imports being considered a luxury product in Hong Kong.
Load More Replies...Here I am recycling and reusing as much as I’m able and people think this S@it is a good idea. I’m actually really angry.
Who buys a single Strawberry for 21$? And in an unrelated matter: I got about 400$ in my garden such a person might be interested in. Always happy to help
This has to be a significant or important kind of gift or a rare type of strawberry. I doubt that single strawberries are that unusual or expensive (but maybe?).
Replacing The Egg Shell With More Plastic To Go Into The Ocean
why??? What possible benefit is there to be gained by removing an egg from its shell???
The last time that I saw this, it was said that the eggs were intended for the salad bar and arrive at the shop without shells, but the salad bar was shut so they bagged them up and sold them so they weren't wasted. I know that this also happened with supermarket salad bars and covid, so it's possible.
Load More Replies...I think these are eggs with cracked shells instead of throwing them all to trash seller has find a way to resell them without the shell
Honest question: how long does an egg last without the shell? I suppose a lot less?
Huh, if only eggs already had some sort of protective layer to keep the yolks contained...
Sometimes the distributor will put the inside into a plastic if the shell is broken, to avoid wasting any egg and still making a little profit (or at least not making too much losses)
Setting aside the practical long-term economic and ecological worries that we have for our own survival, we have to realize that our attitudes toward our environment, plastic pollution, and consumption reflect who we are inside.
Not to sound too cheesy (don’t worry, it’s vegan), but the fight for a clean and healthy planet is also a fight for our very souls. We can either live wastefully, destroying everything around us for short-term pleasure and profit or we can choose to live with wisdom, respecting our role as a part of nature. Now, this certainly doesn’t mean living as ascetically as a monk would, but it doesn’t hurt to have a more minimalist outlook to counter the throwaway society that we live in.
Packaged Chopped Parsley
The static electricity from the styrofoam will make that a tough gig.
Load More Replies...... this is infuriating. Just opening this up or trying to scrap will lose an easy 10% of it.
Plastic Has To Removed From Every Single Mini Sausage Before Cooking
I don't know in other countries, but here in México that isn't plastic, is some sort of gelatin film completly edible, you can choose if you eat it or discard it.
In Europe is the same. There are thinner and thicker films/foils but almost all are edible. I prefer not to eat, but lots of people are eating it...
Load More Replies...If Only Oranges Came With Their Own Protective Packaging So We Didn't Have To Use Plastic
FYI Those are mandarins... Not hating, just stating facts. Incredible post and caption though!
Mandarines are easy to peel, even without a knife. No excuses.
Load More Replies...I'm going to give them a pass on this packaging. Items like this that are already peeled are typically for someone who is disabled and would have difficulty peeling an orange.
Just to point out, there are people that, due to mobility issues, cannot peel oranges, satsumas etc so this is the only way they, and their small children if they have them, can eat citrus fruit. That doesn't make the plastic suddenly not a problem, and I sure people like my friend, who had a stroke very young, would be much happier to buy their ready peeled oranges in compostable container.
Guess, they can't tell the difference between peeled and cut.
Load More Replies...If only disabled people could just get with the program and open things like every one else... Yes, some of these are ridiculous but some are to accommodate those who need accommodations. It's like those infomercials. The huggee (sp?) was made for wheelchair users. As you mock, please think of someone who might appreciate not having to try to use arthritic hands to peel a mandarin.
Because this is not made for able bodied people. This is something for someone who might not be able to handle a peel. Maybe someone who has lost their finger dexterity or has arthritis.
Many of these are crazy with too much packaging, but people with disabilities that keep them from being able to peel and cut food rely on these as access. They shouldn't be for the general public but should always be available for those who need it. Equity, people. Equity.
Single-use plastics currently account for more than a third of all plastics produced each year. What’s more, 98 percent of single-use plastics are manufactured from fossil fuels. Tackling this issue, then, is a vital part of protecting our environment and our future. The BBC reports that an analysis of the business network behind plastic production found that a mere 20 companies are the source of more than half of all the single-use plastic items that are thrown away all over the world.
Individually Wrapped Grapes In Japan
These are the "famed" Ruby Roman grapes that are grown exclusively in Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan are one of the most expensive fruits in the world (when sold as a bunch). Each grape is inspected and hand-picked for quality and taste. Fruit became a luxury item in Japan and is often given as gifts to show someone you truly care for them. Still, I'm not sure that I would pay 10 pounds for an individual grape (maybe if it was covered in gold dust and blessed by virgins)
Wow and I thought the strawberry was a bit much... who eats only one grape???
How come the most needless and stupid packaging comes from SE Asia?
Japanese, not SE Asia, and here is an explanation - https://www.tsunagulocal.com/en/47587/
Load More Replies...When we visited in 2019 we noticed that fruit was VERY overpriced in Japan.
Your Coke Needs That Plastic
I've stopped myself commenting on everyone so far but this was the final nail in the coffin, never seen anything so stupid or pointless!!
I guess these are for people who don't want to do disinfect cans because of covid. With bottles at least your mouth doesn't touch the part where germs could have landed.
I'm guessing these are for people who don't want to disinfect cans because of covid. With bottles your mouth
How else do you expect to make Coca Cola brownies? (2 c flour, 1 c sugar, 1 c cocoa, 1 can Coca Cola, 1 egg, chocolate chips, mashed banana, walnuts, marshmallow. Bake 350 until done.)
The Three Layers Of Plastic Protection For These Oranges. How Is This Even Allowed?
Why is it that it seems that the most plastic used in packaging is in Japanese/Chinese markets? I've seen many examples of this and it makes no sense to me
This is Japanese, and most of it is related to Japan. It is to make it look more upmarket, more eye pleasing for customers, and more suitable to give as gifts. Japan is shifting to using plant-based alternatives for plastic now though, and does already recycle 84% of its plastic waste.
Load More Replies...If there was any more plastic on that, it'd have 50 million Instagram followers.
In Japan packaging is all about presentation. It adds to the value of the product in their eyes, which is a part if their consumerism culture
OK to give Japan a bit of credit, fruit is expensive there. It is often given as a gift when you go to people's homes. Also most things are recyclable in some way. Our apt had 5 "waste bins" and the actual trash bin was the smallest. But even in this picture you can see the average bag of oranges in the back (probably costs $50usd too).
The Chinese give oranges and certain melons for Chinese New Year. They do this as a gift if prosperity. The orange color of the fruits and melons look like gold.
“Plastic bottles, food packages, and bags are among billions of items that are used once and then thrown away, often ending up in the oceans,” the BBC writes about the impact these companies, the largest producer of single-use plastic of which is ExxonMobil, have on the world.
Such A Waste Of Plastic
i first read it as "appealing" and was very confused
Load More Replies...Sure, we use too much plastic in our life, but ICA actually did an infomercial a while back about how the plastic makes the produce last up to three times longer than normal. Their plastic is made from sugarcanes as well, and not oil. It's all to reduce food-waste, which is a huge problem in Europe.
Ah! That's good to know. I was surprised when I saw it was ICA because it wouldn't have been something I'd expect from a Swedish supermarket so it's good to know what it actually is. Can we eat the sugar cane plastic (she asks hopefully)?
Load More Replies...actually, with the cases of COVID, anti maskers and anti vaxxers; this is a pretty logical leap in protecting produce from being coughed or sneezed on, or dirty hands rumpling around in the bins of fruits and veg.
But if you are worried you can just wash your produce?
Load More Replies...To be fair during the height of the pandemic, I avoided buying vegetables in open that could be coughed on.
This is because our socialist government (in Sweden) have introduced BIG taxes on plastic bags to support our expensive and destructive immigration programs. A plastic bag for your groceries used to cost like 10-20cents, but now they cost a dollar. Extra thin plastic bags to put your fruit in used to be free but now costs alot of money as well but in this way you don't get taxed because you don't need the bag and there is also more plastic waste. This is what our socialist government wanted.
Asparagus Water???
DIY asparagus water: Fill a glass with water, put asparagus in, drink. (I think it's for drinking, right?)
Whole Foods and Trader Joe's both got mocked in social media for this. I'm not sure you can buy them anymore.
The worst part of this is that when silly items like this actually find buyers, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's conceit that he is an all-knowing Libertarian philosopher is further reinforced.
Two words: WHOLE FOODS ...welcome to Murica where we buy the dumbest crap if someone convinces us it's "healthy"
Me and my coworkers joke about this one. We work in bougie alternative to Whole Foods, and each night we drain out the ice bins where we display the asparagus, so you get a big bucket of greenish literal asparagus water. We always joke afterwards, "Gonna sell this tub of asparagus water for hundreds of dollars to the richies." :'V It looks nasty! Haha.
What Can You Even Make With 1 Tomato?? The Styrofoam Bedding
I understand the waste aspect here. But the title? Why do you have to make something with a tomato? Slice it up and put it on a sandwich.
Or just toss that bitch in some salt and go to town.
Load More Replies...I often buy one tomato for a sandwich, but I wouldn't buy one wrapped in plastic.
According to the research, conducted among others by the London School of Economics, part of the increase in single-use plastic waste is due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with protective and medical equipment having to be discarded for health and safety reasons.
I Can’t Even Imagine How Much Plastic Waste Is Just Sitting In Landfills Because Of Pointless Things Like This
Do you see the stickers on the potatoes? "Microwave ready". They are for bringing into work and bunging in the microwave with the plastic still on. Because if you're stuck with only a microwave, plastic wrapped potatoes apparently taste better when microwaved and not every workplace has cling wrap. Actually saves some plastic use with how some people trail cling wrap.
That's stupid, you can microwave potatoes as they is. Buy already washed ones and put them in a paper towel.
Load More Replies...If you want one potato, what would you place it in….a produce baggie? Not sure how that’s much different.
This is different though. This packaging makes the potatoes microwave-ready.
It’s a POTATO. Do you really think that wrapping is necessary?? 😂
We get these. You can cook it in the plastic and they are really nice and soft.
Pre Peeled Bananas In Plastic. There Is So Much Wrong With This!!
As soon as you peel a banana and expose it to air, it begins to turn brown. That's disgusting
And if it doesn't, it means that these bananas are soaked in chemicals.
Load More Replies...Bananas are the easiest fruits to peel IMO. (OK there are fruits that need no peeling at all, but that's another story).
If only the banana had some sort of peel made to protect it and keep it fresh.....
Jesus, has humanity truly become THAT LAZY that you can't even take the 10 seconds out of your day to peel one of the EASIEST fruits to peel?? Unbelievable...
Why is this happening? Are there people who are incapable of peeling a banana?
Spraying Water Over Vegetables Wrapped In Plastic, Complete Waste
Looks like the Albert Heijn. They probably placed the vegetables wrong because it works for unpacked vegetables . The mist keeps it fresh . Unfortunately due to Covid everything is packed now :-(
This is at Albert Heijn (I think), a Dutch supermarket, and they have sold packaged vegetables for years... A lot of Dutch supermarkets sell almost all veggies packaged in plastic, but I wish they wouldn't. It's just not neccesary.
Load More Replies...Spraying water over the vegetables does nothing anway. It's just there to give the customers the feeling of freshness.
The spraying might also be doing some cooling to the vegetables.
Load More Replies...The United Kingdom is in fourth place in its plastic consumption, with each citizen generating over 40 kilograms of single-use plastic waste per year. Australia is in first place, meanwhile, the United States stands in second place.
Looks Like Some People Are Still Grapeling With Their New Year's Resolutions
In Spain it's a tradition toeat exactly 12 grapes when a bell's clock is sounding 12h at midnight, for new year's eve. But people usually buy (and it's quite expensive) grapes at the grocery's, in bulk, and we prepare them in little pots or sometring. They are sold 12 by 12 in little cans, but I don't know anybody who buys them (somebody does!). I've never seen it.
Sounds like an interesting tradition but this packaging is horrible
Load More Replies...New Year's Eve tradition in Spain where superstition has them eating one grape for each stroke of midnight or something on that line.
Eating 12 grapes at Midnight on New Year's Eve is a big thing in some cultures.
Isn't it supposed to be 13? That's how we always did it.. the 13th is for wishes
PS Husband's culture... he's From Italy. I'm a boring old American/Irish gal
Load More Replies...Harry & David Strawberries
Okay, so, I looked it up and, since these are from Harry & David, they're packed like that for shipping. The price? $34 for eleven strawberries... and I don't think that includes shipping!!
I’ve had these. I did think it was ridiculous when I opened the box, however, they were *perfect* strawberries and they tasted like strawberries should. Which is not all that common anymore unfortunately. Anyway, they’re meant as a gift and so some of this should be chalked up to presentation, albeit a bit wasteful.
The packaging and everything is appalling. But those strawberries look rad.
Wouldn't It Be Nice If Fruit Like Bananas Had Their Own Natural Packaging To Help Reduce Plastic Pollution?
Essentially, what the report showed is that the future of the plastic waste crisis lies in the hands of a handful of companies. Therefore change that affects our environment on a global scale ought to start from there.
This Is Some Next Level Laziness
For people with arthritis in their hands but who still want to enjoy oranges...
This is for people with mobility issues, particularly arthritis in the hands, fingers, and wrists.
I would be better for them to provide fruit peeling service, kinda like butcher service for fruit, instead of this.
Come off your high horse why don't you. Disabled people, such as MS suffers, or people with severe arthritis in their hands, can't peel oranges and other fruits or vegetables. That's what these are sold like this for.
Load More Replies...Well if you're lazy to peel an orange you must be lazy to rip off the plastic from this packaging too lmao
I'm guessing these were excess peeled oranges intended for fruit salad, and they're just getting rid of them.
Load More Replies...My Wife Wanted Peeled Garlic. They Peeled, Then Individually Wrapped Them
Technically, plastic (i.e. polymers) counts as an organic compound.
Load More Replies...Pretty sure these are packaged in clusters of 5-6 pieces, so each can be opened for a given average dish. This is actually handy, and they can be frozen this way.
So that when you open the package it doesn't then a) stink out the fridge and b) lose flavour as the smell dissipates? I think the answer is to peel your own garlic, it really isn't hard, and for those that can't then maybe garlic paste?
Packaged peeled is debatable. I personally don't agree with the extra packaging, but a lot of people love it for the convenience. But individually wrapped?!
A Packaged Lemon, With The Slogan "Waste Less, Enjoy More"
This is BS. WeVAC is a company that makes home vacuum-sealing equipment. Someone just did this at home on their own and took a photo of it.
I totally agree. I have these very vacuum sealing bags at home.
Load More Replies...Ask the fish in the ocean if they agree, since most of our garbage ends up there!
Using the words of Johnny Tightlips from "The Simpsons", my response is "Stick a lemon in it!". That's wasteful.
“It's an extraordinary point of leverage for regulators, for finance institutions, to influence them in order that rather than producing from fossil fuels, they produce plastic that's recycled,” said Dominic Charles, the Minderoo Foundation’s director of finance and transparency. The Minderoo Foundation published the research findings.
"We need to go after the tap, to turn off the tap of fossil fuel plastics and we need to create plastics from recycled material,” Charles from the Minderoo Foundation said.
My Hellofresh Meal Kit Came With 4 Individually Bagged Carrots And A Bagged Slice Of Bread
Is HelloFresh different in other countries then? My HelloFresh comes in so little plastic packaging I've occasionally lost the single garlic clove they sent until I tip the entire box upside down and it's under one of the ice bags!
A single clove? No matter the recipe, that's not enough.
Load More Replies...Hello fresh in the UK would never do this, as they know we would never put up with it. They’d go out of business if they behaved like this here. Different countries different strategy
I refuse to use them after being gifted a few boxes. Couldn't believe my single sprig of parsley had its own bag....
This Individually Packaged Slice Of Whole Wheat Bread
We had these when I worked in the kitchen at a hospital. It wasn’t sanitary to have a loaf of bread that we reached into constantly but sat around in between, so when making individual snacks for patients, we had to use these. If making a bunch of something with bread at once we could use regular bagged bread.
I was going to comment on the hospital bread. I'd think the shelf life had to be slightly longer as well.
Load More Replies...Not for sale to general public. You might see it in hotel breakfast stations for grab and go.
This is often done for hospitals and other institutions to keep it fresh and for ease of distribution. 🤷🏻♀️
First came individually wrapped cheese slices. Now individually wrapped bread slices. Just add some mustard & mayo packets and you've got a cheese sandwich.
Cannot Beleaf This From M&s
Fake, “leaf” is single “leaves” plural. Ps. In the U.K M&S sell bags of leaves not singles.
In short, there’s a need to put a stop to the production of single-use plastics from non-recyclable materials, in order to counteract the report’s grim prognosis: within the next 5 years, plastic production is set to expand by a whopping 30 percent.
If Only Bananas Had Robust, Natural, Bio-Degradable Packaging Of Their Own. Some Sort Of Peelable Skin, Perhaps
To be fair, this picture is about 15 years old. Morrisons no longer has that branding and from what I understand have fairly decent commitments to plastic reduction.
I seem to remember this being mocked when it was introduced a few years ago. Morrison's dropped the idea, and yes, I think they are now reducing plastic in their stores.
Load More Replies...Our local store sells Banana's wrapped in plastic bags next to Bananas fresh, natural and no plastic. I don't know how much plastic and Bananas they have to throw out, because people are not buying them.
The plastic-trapped ones are looking up at their free friends, just hanging out...
I mean, bananas can get squashed and destroyed in transit etc, but I would presume if someone was buying a single banana it would be to eat right away and there would be no need for the packaging, which would go straight in the bin.
It's Getting Hot In Here, So Take Off All Your Cloves
The Most Ridiculous Part About Living In Japan: Plastic Everywhere!
I'm starting to feel better about my own country. We still use too much plastic, but at least we don't do this.
Yeah i also thought we use too much but it seems that there is too much and there is Japan which is a whole new level of plastic waste(no offense to Japanese)
Load More Replies...Actually Japan has one of the most comprehensive recycling programs. Since there isn't a lot of space for landfills, they take recycling to an EXTREME. I mean literally the garbage man will come knock on your door if you placed a recyclable item into the trash or vice versa.
But you don't need that much plastic packaging in the first place tho....
Load More Replies...I've never seen that in Japan. Also, while plastic waste is definitely a problem all over the world, Japan does a pretty good job of managing its waste. Even in a big city, you rarely see much trash on the street.
"America is the worst polluter!" Have you LIVED in China or the Far East???? We are Top of the Rainbow!
Japan is worse then the U.S, Japan here is a message for you: USE LESS F*****G PLASTIC
Individually Wrapped Gummy Bears
Maybe this is for kids to share? And be less germy? But they should at least put 3-4 in a little pack not 1.
That is to slow you down. It would drive me crazy unwrapping them all
These Peeled Avocados Wrapped In Plastic
I KNOW WHERE THESE ARE FROM AND I HATE THEM THEY ARENT EVEN GOOD TASTING
They look vacuum packed which makes a lot of sense for avocados - I actually appreciate this - plus you can see if it's gross and brown inside or whatever
Never mind the plastic but how tiny are your avocados?! Really, though: do mind the plastic.
They use these in restaurants where I've worked and they are just awful. They don't taste like avocado at ALL!! And I LOVE avocado!
* says sarcastically* " Oh WOW just what we need! ...... MORE PLASTIC HURTING THE WORLD 😡😡😡😡😡
This is the only one I can get behind; they last longer and can be frozen for single use in a restaurant...I dislike packaged fruits and vegetables as much as the next person, but I use and like this one.
They are a horrible product. If you like avocado, you will hate these, I promise.
Load More Replies...Individually Wrapped Peppers That Are Used For Salad And Pre Cut Into 1/4s Just To Have To Be Cut Again Into Smaller Pieces
I know as a society we are becoming more and more time poor but this is just ridiculous.
Meal plan delivery? The recipe calls for a quarter of a pepper, that's what you get.
I'm guessing there's a part off them get bad so they just them into small pieces?
A Coconut Wrapped In Non Recyclable Plastic Packaging. Wtf! A Coconut Is Already Packaged. Shame On Tesco UK
I'm from the Caribbean. If you did this here...you would be the laughing stock of the island.
So what you're telling me is you wish you'd have been there when I was in high school (in the states) and spent forty minutes in class trying to savage my way through a coconut?
Load More Replies...I wonder if the barcode could be laser-etched directly onto the skin of the coconut, eliminating the need for any sort of packaging or labeling at all.
Where I live not all items have barcodes. I use self checkout most of the time, and things like coconut, or veggies that are sold by piece, I just add manually on the monitor once I've scanned all the rest.
Load More Replies...But it's a GENUINE coconut, they must get no less than the best plastic which is actually the worst but ya know
This Is So Wasteful And Just Ridiculous
There are these things called "boxes" which can be either re-used or recycled. I wonder if they've heard of them?
Just A Single Egg In A Plastic Cage
This is already cooked, though. It's not meant for groceries, but for a quick snack.
We have those in Germany too, but they are either sold without packaging or 6 to 10 in a box. Oh, and they are always painted, whether it's easter or not.
Load More Replies...Maybe it helps prevent breakage in the carton if you have butterfingers? Not the candy though.
Finally A Way To Buy Apples And Add Plastic To Landfills And Oceans
I'm finding uses in my brain already for those tubes though, I have to admit I'd probably buy apples like that. Craft supply storage, among other things, come to mind for those containers.
These aren't that much different to other punnets of apples you can get, these are just cylindrical.
Where I live you just buy apples per kg, no pre-packaging at all.
Load More Replies...Wrapping Individual Vegetables In Plastic! Actually Extremely Infuriating
The idea is to make it look fresh for long and increase its shelf life.
It’s especially crazy when you think about all the extra money it cost to put a plastic seal on EVERY carrot. It probably costs the consumer more for that wasteful plastic.
Tell Me Jamaica Ain't Serious Lmfao
For those wondering the price, i just googled: as for today(!) 158.20 Jamaican dollar are around 1.05 US dollar
Maybe I'll need to read the headline before posting something haha
Load More Replies...This Complete Waste Of Packaging
T-there are tomatoes not wrapped right behind those…
Wtf Is The Point Of Wrapping Potatoes In Plastic! Please Just Buy The Ones Right Next To These Not In Plastic
You really don't need plastic to microwave a potato though. Wash potatoes, stab potatoes, wrap in a towel, and throw them in the microwave. Or, turn on the oven. If you don't have an oven, see previous response.
Ooh, or: make fire outside, wrap potatoes in foil, throw next to fire in the embers, and wait. Where there's a will there's a way darn it!
Load More Replies...If you want to microwave potatoes, don’t for heaven’s sake wrap them in plastic! Scrub them, put them on a shallow bed of kosher salt, poke a couple of holes in them for steam to escape, then microwave them. As soon as they’re done, split them open and squeeze them so more of the steam escapes. The salt absorbs the moisture and leaves you with a light, fluffy potato that is next level tasty.
if you use plastic wrapped around your potato in a microwave...you're essentially poisoning yourself with the chemicals released as the plastic heats up. not a smart move, really...
There are plastics that can go into the microwave. Many tupperware containers, for example. You probably mean melamine, which is used for plastic bowls and dishes. That can release formaldehyde in the microwave.
Load More Replies...That's no excuse. People manage to microwave potatoes just fine without the plastic.
Load More Replies...Peeled, Packaged And Even Comes With Its Own Forks
When Orange Peel Is Replaced With Plastic
Aren't mandarins easier to peel? I have rheumatoid arthritis and I only by mandarins for that reason.
Load More Replies...Cauliflower And Broccoli Nested On A Single Use Plastic Tray Wrapped In Pointless Plastic Wrap
How Extra Do You Need To Be To Buy Individual Shallot And Garlic Bulbs In Boxes Instead Of Loose?
Destroying The Planet One Apple At A Time
These Individually Wrapped 3-Inch Slices Of Watermelon
This Useless Packaging / Waste Of Plastic
What A Waste
Ah, if only banana's came with their own packaging so that a poor turtle had to die...
The Way My School Packages Chips
The Amount Of Plastic Mcdonalds Uses For Two Pieces Of Bacon
i didnt even know you could order bacon separately...that is a hotcake tray they used
Chipotle Now Waste More Plastic To Package Their Lemons
I don’t blame them if it was for takeout tbh, though they could have at least used cardboard
Wasteful Packaging At Walmart
I could maybe see this for heirloom tomatoes that aren't well suited to supply-chain handling, but this is just silly.
The Way This Company Wastes Plastic By Individually Packing Cheese
This Is Absolutely Utterly Unnecessary! That’s Pure Waste! What’s Wrong With A Cardboard Box!? A Paper Bag!?
You toss it up in the air and catch it with your fork on the way down. Perhaps they just ran out of single-cupcake clamshell boxes.
Load More Replies...A few years ago I was waiting at the bread and cakes counter in Tesco waiting for my bread to be sliced. Selections of iced buns and doughnuts used to be stacked, unwrapped, on a sloping tray. I watched in horror and some amusement as a kid of about 3 started slapping and thumping them with his filthy little hands. Told the server and she had to remove every single one on display.
I worked at a bakery and, if someone ordered a single cupcake to go, we would package them similarly to this, only we'd set the cupcake on the upturned lid and then put the cup on as a top. Can't put it in a paper bag because it gets messed up and the cups were cheaper than single-cupcake clamshells!
The worst part is that you can’t even get it out without ruining the cupcake.
Woolworths: “We’re Going Plastic Bag Free!” - Also Woolworths
Woolworths in Australia (aka woolies) is Australian owned. Why is that?
Load More Replies...Vegetable Packaging Is Getting Out Of Hand
These are ready to eat on the go snacks, to put in a handbag when you're out so they aren't rolling around and mashing into your phone. Like the baggies even say that.
Buy normal carrots or cucumbers, wash them, peel them if desired and put them in a lunchbox or Tupperware. Same result, less unnecessery packaging.
Load More Replies...It Makes Me Want To Cry!
Plastic Doesn’t Get Much More Pointless Than This
Plastic Might Sometimes Be The Best Packaging Option But M&s Could At Least Fillet
So far this is 1st that at some level makes sense. Steak does not have any natural package (if you do not count the whole cow. But that would be still bit unpractical...) and vacuum sealing increases well the shelf life and reduces food waste.
Who Wants Their Peaches Wrapped In Wasteful Plastic So You Can’t Tell If They Are Ripe Or Not?
Well, I sort of understand it. They bruise very easily, if you protect them by a packaging they are gonna last longer.
If Only This Mango Had Some Sort Of Natural Packaging
Well This Packaging Is Pointless
Actually it isn't. Onions and garlic are best stored hanging and inside mesh. It keeps the humidity/heat balanced and they last longer.
Why? Why Is This Necessary For Garlic?
I'm kinda crying rn. So much waste of plastic and lack of either knowledge or care of the environment.
Carrefour Italia More Than Halving Their Passion For The Environment
I can SOMEHOW understand peeled orange (although it's still unnecessary). But this? Thanks for cutting my fruit in half, I saved sooo much time.
Can’t Be Lemongrassed With This
Thick Plastic Bag For A Quartered Watermelon. For Convenience
Thick plastic so that the watermelon doesn't start becoming watery and all the juices are collected in it. Reducing a mess. Also in my country or origin, it is taboo to break the fruit in half and sell, forget quarters.
Plasticomania - Apples Packaging
The real crime is paying that price for Canadian Honey Crisp apples.
That price is because of the packaging. They need to recover $$ they spent on it.
Load More Replies...Not The Sort Of Limelight Costcutter Are After But They Can Have It Anyway
M&s What Do You Have To Say About This Product? It Doesn’t Really Fit In With You Plastic Reduction Policy Does It?
Too Bad Corn Doesn't Come In Some Sort Of Biodegradable Packaging
Hmm It Seems Mindful Chef UK Are Eggnoring The Climate Crisis
There's nothing wrong with the paper pulp kind, they're made of mostly recycled materials. Plastic containers are a huge problem. They are technically recyclable, but recycled plastic is not pure enough for injection molding, and is relegated to low-quality items like deck boards. Food containers are almost always made of virgin plastic.
Load More Replies...Are We Happy There Is A Healthy Choice On Offer, Or Is This A Waste Of Plastic?
This whole post literally makes me seethe. Boycott boycott boycott people.
I do. I buy my food from my local grocery who supports our community, and fruit and veg from the roadside stands. I never shop in a department store or buy stuff on the net, I buy everything I need from thrift stores, from my furniture to my underwear I support my local instead of corporations. Our charities support women, men and families in time of need and every dollar i spend there helps someone.
Load More Replies...Simple solution to this plastic pollution: Do not buy products packed in excessive amounts of plastic.
I try incredibly hard to not buy plastic at the grocery store but my God it is hard. A lot of things I just don't buy at all now. Produce section is the most infuriating because it doesn't need plastic but all the fruit my local store sells comes in plastic. I miss berries.
Load More Replies...As someone whose arthritis makes dinner-prep excruciating, I can see how the pre-peeled fruit would be great for people with disabilities who might otherwise struggle to peel an orange or something like that. Once you start individually wrapping them though it goes back to causing the issue that it was resolving (those individually-wrapped garlic cloves are ridiculous). Individually-wrapped grapes don't need to exist, non-peeled fruit doesn't need plastic, and why does it all have to be plastic??????? There are other options! Like letting the non-peeled orange breath free!
I see that this is very common in Asian countries specifically Japan and China.
I really don't think Japan is that bad, most of these photos are extreme examples from around here. People are pretty eco-conscious in general, separating and recycling their waste, and mostly using ecobags since the government introduced new legislation and incentives a couple of years ago. I think our use of reusable bags has gone up to around 85% of purchases since then. Waste disposal is also managed really well, particularly compared to the US, with most of what isn't recycled being incinerated with high-scrub systems. It's not perfect, but I think these images paint Japan in an inaccurate light.
Load More Replies...The fact that Japan uses that amount of plastic is worrying. Then again, if they get away with hunting whales, what harm does a little plastic do to the environment, eh? Also, most of these abominations exist because lazy and uneducated people buy them. Even in this shïthole people know better than putting extra plastic where it's not needed. In fact, we've had a zero plastic bags law for a few years, and even though it's not perfect, people understood rather fast and now no one goes out without a shopping bag.
Although, let me also add that I've discussed both plastic pollution and the whale hunts with numerous people here. People are extremely concerned about marine plastic pollution, and it's on the news pretty frequently. On the other hand, most people I've spoken to are unaware or uninformed about the whale hunting expiditions. While saving the whales is something I agree with, it hasn't been ingrained in the Japanese psyche. Also, there's something of a dearth of investigative journalism, and that's a subject that hasn't been discussed too much here. As for those that I've spoken with that were well-informed about it, nearly all of them find it deplorable.
Load More Replies...In Australia a few lads did a short series called the "War on Waste" ,they did a fruit and veg shop for a week for a family of 5, paid for thier stuff, and while in the shop unpacked everything out of the plastic and styrofoam and put the waste in a trolley that got filled to the top and left it for them. They did this at several of our largest supermarkets. The amount of waste was ridiculous. People don't demand this "convenience" it's the supermarkets way of forcing you to buy more than you need ( which is MORE waste) to make a better bottom line for them. It doesn't matter how much we've complained, they won't change it.
So stupid. How can consumers save on plastic when companies essentially force it upon us. They need to be held more accountable and should pay for clean ups with their profits.
Yes it's really hypocritical to put the whole blame and responsibility on the consumer when it's the companies that should have some restrictions and follow specific policies about these things
Load More Replies...And yet, people in my country are obsessed with using a plastic straw, and are getting a carbon tax added to everything. How is this helping when some country, like we've seen, over use plastic
If you’re over 15, you held out long enough anyway lol
Load More Replies...This whole post literally makes me seethe. Boycott boycott boycott people.
I do. I buy my food from my local grocery who supports our community, and fruit and veg from the roadside stands. I never shop in a department store or buy stuff on the net, I buy everything I need from thrift stores, from my furniture to my underwear I support my local instead of corporations. Our charities support women, men and families in time of need and every dollar i spend there helps someone.
Load More Replies...Simple solution to this plastic pollution: Do not buy products packed in excessive amounts of plastic.
I try incredibly hard to not buy plastic at the grocery store but my God it is hard. A lot of things I just don't buy at all now. Produce section is the most infuriating because it doesn't need plastic but all the fruit my local store sells comes in plastic. I miss berries.
Load More Replies...As someone whose arthritis makes dinner-prep excruciating, I can see how the pre-peeled fruit would be great for people with disabilities who might otherwise struggle to peel an orange or something like that. Once you start individually wrapping them though it goes back to causing the issue that it was resolving (those individually-wrapped garlic cloves are ridiculous). Individually-wrapped grapes don't need to exist, non-peeled fruit doesn't need plastic, and why does it all have to be plastic??????? There are other options! Like letting the non-peeled orange breath free!
I see that this is very common in Asian countries specifically Japan and China.
I really don't think Japan is that bad, most of these photos are extreme examples from around here. People are pretty eco-conscious in general, separating and recycling their waste, and mostly using ecobags since the government introduced new legislation and incentives a couple of years ago. I think our use of reusable bags has gone up to around 85% of purchases since then. Waste disposal is also managed really well, particularly compared to the US, with most of what isn't recycled being incinerated with high-scrub systems. It's not perfect, but I think these images paint Japan in an inaccurate light.
Load More Replies...The fact that Japan uses that amount of plastic is worrying. Then again, if they get away with hunting whales, what harm does a little plastic do to the environment, eh? Also, most of these abominations exist because lazy and uneducated people buy them. Even in this shïthole people know better than putting extra plastic where it's not needed. In fact, we've had a zero plastic bags law for a few years, and even though it's not perfect, people understood rather fast and now no one goes out without a shopping bag.
Although, let me also add that I've discussed both plastic pollution and the whale hunts with numerous people here. People are extremely concerned about marine plastic pollution, and it's on the news pretty frequently. On the other hand, most people I've spoken to are unaware or uninformed about the whale hunting expiditions. While saving the whales is something I agree with, it hasn't been ingrained in the Japanese psyche. Also, there's something of a dearth of investigative journalism, and that's a subject that hasn't been discussed too much here. As for those that I've spoken with that were well-informed about it, nearly all of them find it deplorable.
Load More Replies...In Australia a few lads did a short series called the "War on Waste" ,they did a fruit and veg shop for a week for a family of 5, paid for thier stuff, and while in the shop unpacked everything out of the plastic and styrofoam and put the waste in a trolley that got filled to the top and left it for them. They did this at several of our largest supermarkets. The amount of waste was ridiculous. People don't demand this "convenience" it's the supermarkets way of forcing you to buy more than you need ( which is MORE waste) to make a better bottom line for them. It doesn't matter how much we've complained, they won't change it.
So stupid. How can consumers save on plastic when companies essentially force it upon us. They need to be held more accountable and should pay for clean ups with their profits.
Yes it's really hypocritical to put the whole blame and responsibility on the consumer when it's the companies that should have some restrictions and follow specific policies about these things
Load More Replies...And yet, people in my country are obsessed with using a plastic straw, and are getting a carbon tax added to everything. How is this helping when some country, like we've seen, over use plastic
If you’re over 15, you held out long enough anyway lol
Load More Replies...
