Why buying plastic-free groceries is so hard (Marketplace)

Is plastic packaging out of control at your supermarket? We challenge two families to help us uncover why supermarkets aren't doing more to reduce plastic waste.
To read more: www.cbc.ca/1.4...
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[@barbd2827]

Why in the world would you wrap a coconut?

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

Because of stupidity. I have seen shrink-wrapped cabbage, I almost lost it, seriously, do these people not know how tight a cabbage is wrapped in its own leaves?!

[@jeezymclovin2215]

To put youre logo on it

[@socialistsolidarity]

@Barb D Exactly. Have you been to Japan? Plastic fetish is at a whole new level here. They would go as far as individually wrapped chocolate.

[@simonaivancic528]

or when they pit bananas in plastic

[@prchix]

@@simonaivancic528 there's a town in Japan that does not allow plastic or general trash.. don't know the name but it's on YT,, interesting video

[@dejavu011]

What exactly was the point of making the zero-waste family switch back to using plastic? They live in downtown Toronto and are obviously very committed to not buying anything in plastic and generating plastic waste, and they're well aware of the challenges. It would have been more effective if you got a few different families (with children/ without children/ young professionals/ students/ older generations) to compare, if you needed the comparison.

[@JK88M]

Agree. Or let them be "mentors".

[@DeborahM116]

By far the dumbest thing about this "investigation"... I appreciate the CBC's efforts but I could not help but facepalm at how thoroughly the experiment missed the point of plastic reduction.

[@alymj3304]

Yes. Or have the waste-free family try and follow their values but only at large grocery chains to show what is possible for people without access to specialty zero waste stores

[@sonofhibbs4425]

Agree, a television show about how to reduce use of plastic OR about getting on the asses if those corporations that simply breeze by on waste laws would be much better use of time. Can’t recycle time.

[@purpleghost106]

​@@alymj3304 THAT! Because it IS hard to avoid plastic when you only have access to large chain stores-- and they could have done a good job talking about what the extra cost is, and what to do to deal with it. The biggest thing I find (and it's very troublesome) is the cost difference. Non-plastic packaged things are often double or triple the cost. :(

[@spookey_pookie]

AhAh, who else cringed at the sight of the individually-wrapped produce?!

[@mysterybuyer3738]

I liked it

[@addictive7356]

Mystery Buyer what an edge lord.

[@asmodeusasteroth7137]

I saw a broccoli in my store in plastic I'm sad because we use our bags, and if we forget we request cardboard product boxes so we use a box again then, recycle, people pick them up, take tape and staples off Its goes to a plant recycle But,,,,thats so small a accomplishment

[@dababy4290]

I cringed on this comment

[@goodra999]

Elora Costan I’ve seen plastic bagged romaine lettuce

[@Eusantdac]

All packaging should be bio-degradable, or illegal.

[@IsaiahGamers]

Sure lets just raise the prices to offset the cost of bio degradable packaging....

[@r2dxhate]

@@IsaiahGamers Sure let's just wait until the amount of plastic in our food doubles before we decide to spend a few extra cents per product.

[@katysmith1284]

Gnawty’s Ayy De La Lmao orrr.. we could just not package things like lemons, apples, broccoli - or just any other fresh produce. Orr, we could just use cardboard for frozen/stored products. And, we could allow and encourage the use of recyclable containers for bulk bin items. It’s cheaper not having to factor extra plastic packaging into an item in the long term.

[@r2dxhate]

@@katysmith1284 I was thinking of a system where a portion of every front lawn is a garden, and city funded gardeners patrol every day to maintain the gardens. If the system also allows anyone to come pick ingredients as needed, then your neighbor might have the lemons while you have the apples, instead of trying to grow everything you might use. Some plants over-produce as well so sharing becomes a necessity to avoid waste. For colder climates, a greenhouse may be needed for some things like lemons, but may also be needed just to keep a year round harvest of most things. The government might not be the best for this sort of task so it could even be a community that designates the official gardener instead of a tax funded gardener, or a private company similar to a lawn care or landscaping business. The point is to tackle waste and dependence and GMO's and pesticides. Some food lasts longer when it stays on the plant, so picking as needed can reduce waste. The quantities of plants can also be adjusted based on the use of the community or neighborhood. There can also be shared surpluses between neighborhoods, and email calendars of when different things will be in season, and suggested recipes for each. And all of the plant waste of the neighborhood could be used for composting that makes more fruit and vegetables.

[@AsthmaQueen]

@@IsaiahGamers Thats fine if thats whats nessicary to do it, think about the amount of money spent trying to clean-up fix the issue. All of this could also be sorted with grants/reliefs from the goverment by switching and selling, or putting a tax on items that are nondegradable since they end up costing the country in numerous ways

[@florencewrake5311]

FRUITS AND VEG ALREADY COME WITH PACKAGING, THE SKIN! THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SKIN OR SHELL

[@Yogurt2740]

preech

[@kailjoyce87]

preech

[@megankelly4327]

Peach ha ha

[@brizxy5475]

florence wrake the skin will break down in like a month and become soil again, plastic takes over 400 yrs to become soil again......

[@leslie.sanchez]

Brizxy plastic does not biodegrade at alll it just becomes smaller

[@sagel.4183]

THIS is the investigative journalism I'm looking for!!!

[@John-wick-]

Sage L. Use Plastic Bae...😇

[@houchi69]

Meanwhile, the reporter has plastic everytime he appears LOL

[@04.nguyenkimanh54]

houchi69 thats a little annoyed

[@TheBoilingICE]

Is it? This is simply reporting, nothing investigative. They should dig deeper into how plastic is deeply entrenched in the business of oil drillers and the economics behind it.

[@TelmoMonteiro]

Completely agree! This is high value content

[@Chantwizzle]

I think part of the problem is, us north Americans have been led to believe that plastic = food safety. Plastic = freshness. We buy huge quantities of food, and this also contributes to food waste. I've made my own cloth and mesh bags for shopping and try not to buy packaged stuff. We moved from a 1600sq ft home to an 88sq ft camper. We don't have space for heavy packaging and garbage. We buy what we know we can eat in a few days because our fridge is small. We try to find places we can bring our own containers for pasta, spices, cereal etc. We already no means wealthy. It's just a conscious effort.

[@masterpalladin]

average american houses houses for 2-3 bedroom's and 1-2 bathrooms can be 700-900 square ft....built with hemp bricks to reduce heating, geothermal heating, natural gas etc and back up woodstove

[@michid99]

the UK isn't much better they wrap cucumbers, broccoli and the like as well. the example in this video was one example but most chain supermarkets are not much better.

[@donvidol]

Ehy you deserve a prize for living like 3/4 of rest of the world !

[@jessicathompson236]

Chantal Said, Good job. It's a great start to lowering your carbon footprint. :)

[@jessicathompson236]

Brad Evans, Just look for manufacturers that do that. (There are several) Good luck :)

[@rainbowpierrot1951]

Sis looked mad gleeful when she said she delisted products, CANCELED!! We need more ppl like this lady

[@luizag123]

I loved her. The grapes? RIDICULOUS

[@leslie.sanchez]

Coconuts wrapped in plastic They should be ashamed of themselvey

[@Ocudavidimvideooo]

Watching these two families was like watching Idiocracy 😓

[@JasmineTea127]

I love her! 😂

[@matthewwaterhouse9925]

The plastic prepackaged stuff being cheaper than the unpackaged bulk items is a significant part of the problem. If the unpackaged items would be cheaper, more people would buy them.

[@Ice_Karma]

This. So much this. Not everybody has the "luxury" of having so much spare disposable income they can gladly pay a premium for the lack of plastic.

[@anona2017]

Absolutely. A universal basic income would help more of us do what we want to do to help keep the earth habitable for humans.

[@annushankar3032]

I think if it was more widely available, the cost would go down. And it is 100% on Loblaws and Sobeys to implement it into their stores. There's a high upfront cost, but it is so much better for the planet and their accounts afterward. Less strain on the waste management system in Canada means *slightly* lower taxes (not that big corporations are paying for them), and more unforeseen benefits!

[@DoubleMonoLR]

A huge amount of items can be wrapped in paper anyway, but companies don't want to do it because it's indirectly more expensive(requiring somewhat more careful handling etc). They use supposed customer benefits as an excuse.

[@zacharykrastowicz7485]

@somewoman It is because of economies of scale and supply chains. There are large, robust, low cost logistics behind plastic packaged items that reduce costs far more than eliminating plastic packages do. You still pay for the plastics, but save money on economy of scale.

[@BijoubyBecca]

I will say the single cucumber wrapped in plastic always confused the hell out of me. When next to it the other cucumbers have no wrapping.

[@KatharineOsborne]

Dizzyallaround what’s worse is that one place here in the UK sells cut half cucumbers that are doubly wrapped in plastic. Grow smaller cucumbers if that quantity is a selling point.

[@kaelaleedaley]

Now, I read an article/watched a video yesterday that by wrapping cucumbers in plastic it prolongs their shelf life by 2 weeks. I'm not sure I believe that and I personally feel it's unnecessary to wrap any fresh produce in plastic. Any produce that arrives in our home spoils within a few days if not removed from it's packaging and stored effectively x

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

@@kaelaleedaley I agree. The whole purpose of buying fresh produce is to ensure you get the nutrients that are higher in fresh produce. Unfortunately, wrapping things in plastic may keep things *looking* fresh, but the nutritional value is dramatically decreased. In the end, it's more healthy to eat canned or flash-frozen produce as it's packaged a very short time after harvesting. With the fresh produce on our shelves, unless one is buying from a farm or other truly local food produce (see CBC's exposé of "local" food retailers), it is quite old, having come from other countries. I believe that our lifestyles have to undergo a radical roll-back, our mindsets a radical transformation. We need to go back to the days when farmers are supported, farming is natural and sustainable, and we get our food from an up-front and personal interaction with the person that grew it.

[@MordusdepleinairQuebec]

cucumbers are preserved in plastic because it prevent them to lose moisture so their shelf life is 2 weeks instead of 2 days

[@cagedtigersteve]

It's because at the cucumber factory they need to package it before shipping it across the country. It would get really dirty if it wasn't wrapped in plastic.

[@XusernamegoeshereX]

A real comparison would be two families with the same income doing this. Because I can guarantee you, the zero waste family is wealthier. You can't expect people to change the way they live if its going to cost 2-3 times more. Its NOT feasible for many families, so until the eco friendly stuff comes down in price, there won't be any change.

[@beddythecorgi4269]

Alice Sonlaw ...and make them eat similar diet. The minute I heard the hippies say vegan I couldnt take this seriously. You can convince me to use less plastic but going vegan, never.

[@sinabaur9150]

Beddy TheCorgi Can I ask why you can’t take this seriously because they’re vegan?

[@sinabaur9150]

Random Person That’s true but usually grains and vegetables are the cheapest thing you can buy, so I think it would still be cheaper as long as you don’t buy fancy meat replacements too often

[@alegriamendez6049]

Completely agree! So happy someone finally said this!

[@willasmith3024]

@@beddythecorgi4269 They're not vegan though. They were eating eggs. And the only necessary supplement to be vegan is B12, which personally costs me $10 and one bottle lasts for months since only one pill a week is necessary.

[@Lionesse-z41553]

My partner and I are trying hard to go plastic free. It is NOT easy in the US. We willingly spend more in order to avoid plastic.

[@3798penisholder]

Jennifer Moore your ultimately doing the best for all of us thank you!

[@wendyparsons2980]

Jennifer Moore I live in the US and am a single mom and I have to say that going nearly plastic free has been relatively simple. I certainly have fewer choices, but in the end, I’m still spending somewhat less than before and I am far more happier with life using the least amount of plastic that I can manage.

[@earthrebranded]

I recently found reusable produce bags for very cheap on amazon! Compared to other prices on amazon, it was fairly cheap. Around 10.99 for a pack of 15 while a different pack of 15 is 14.99-20 and a 9 pack for 14.99 as well

[@earthrebranded]

Also, you can skip bottled water that will cost so much every month and just switch to water filters like the Brita it saves you money in the long run

[@babieusagi_4338]

@@earthrebranded EXACTLY bottled water is a SCAM i learned this last year in environment class that every single bottle of water all comes from tap and they LIE about it coming from different places ... its just filtered tap and people are being foolish by buying something that's already free for everyone

[@justaknight4719]

Coconut in a plastic wrap is a complete joke.

[@jamesbainton]

Just like one cucumber shrink-wrapped in plastic which is very hard to take off. Why???

[@campkira]

Don't know why they need to wrap a coconut.

[@therabbithat]

@@jamesbainton ALSO this makes food less accessible to disabled people. Bags of chopped veg are good for disabled people, but they can be biodegradable. Wrapping veg is the opposite, absolute nightmare if you don't have two super dexterous super sensitive hands available

[@infanta55]

To keep it's humidity and make you think it's 'clean'

[@nancymuller3291]

@@jamesbainton It is grown hydroponically. Look it up.

[@DimaRakesah]

"You're going to be delisted" LOVE IT. It's so simple. Start demanding no plastic from these companies.

[@RocioNicte]

Love how they exposed the supermarkets. That's how you make pressure to initiate and promote a change. Well done!

[@ellieblunden1463]

@Louise Heiwood it's from clannad, right? It looks like the girl from Nagisa's story.

[@wwowowoww]

WE 👏🏽 NEED👏🏽MORE👏🏽MEDIA👏🏽CALLING👏🏽OUT👏🏽COMPANIES👏🏽

[@lwgg742]

Exactly! The biggest problem with climate change inaction is the MEDIA COVERAGE.

[@marlenerangel831]

Should be using tetra pack that's recyclable and bagasse products and bringing utensils from home

[@hampSTARR]

and informing consumers too!! thank you CBC!!

[@kristaw206]

I contacted my local grocery store and asked them to reduce plastic packaging even on just produce, and they say it's for health and sanitary reasons. You know what also isn't healthy? Eating a coat hanger's worth of plastic every month because of all this waste penetrating our ecosystems and bodies.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

There's a kind of unspoken system in place to agree to use this excuse, but companies know it's really about nothing but money saving. I can't see any sane reason that some vege sweating away in plastic, after being wrapped by somebodys likely grubby hands, is better than just washing it at home.

[@r.c.3263]

They have to buy what the corporations package their food in, they can't just refuse to get any food because people still need to eat

[@kay-marieadkins4342]

HEMP. Nothing better, stronger, environmentally safe and fully biodegradable. Canada has huge Hemp farms - long over due to replace plastics.

[@annak804]

Kay-Marie Adkins yeah but bio plastic isn't big money so will never get as big as it should with commercial plastic being big money

[@xladyfayre]

I don’t know why we don’t use that. Walmart has the worst plastic shopping bags that bust apart. It’s so frustrating if I forget my reusable bags and have to use those instead. The car isn’t parked close to the apartment either so one of these days it will all wind up on the ground.

[@omsnaga]

That would take a toll on the environment too, I think we are fooling ourselves if we think bioplastics are the solution. The best solution is to reuse whatever you have and not produce unnecessary packaging.

[@Artix902]

Sugarcane plastic is cheaper. India has a surplus of sugar right now so it would be cheaper to buy from developing countries

[@racineg33]

Hemp was huge a long time ago. Industrial revolution era. Until it got banned.

[@AR-nr2ih]

I’m a bagger at a local grocery store and honestly one of the biggest things that people can do to help cut down on plastic is just bring your own bags

[@daniyalkhizar]

in all sobeys, safeways and freshco, you either have to buy a reusable bag or buy a 15 cent paper bag

[@Prodigious1One]

Yeah, I always bring my bags to Aldi.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

Plastic bags are banned here & in other countries. You either bring your own or pay for paper ones.

[@Prodigious1One]

@@DoubleMonoLR that's brilliant! It's too easy to depend on plastic bags in the USA.

[@chrischolewa9104]

me too !

[@itizme8072]

I REMEMBER THE 1960's brown paper was used for tons of things. Meat and fish were wrapped in paper. At the movies, a sheet of paper was made into a funnel and filled with peanuts or popcorn. Candy was in brown paper bags. Even today brown paper bags are used a lot, but people today have been conditioned to use plastic. Paper gets wet it begins the biodegradable process, becoming fertilizer, feeding other organisms. When they changed from paper to plastic it was all about the money as usual. But AS USUAL, the few profited while the planet itself payed the price.

[@Vedrajrm]

And where does that paper come from? It’s not created out of nothing! It’s made by cutting down trees which has a greater and a more immediate impact on the environment.

[@SusanChristmas]

I remember paper bags at the grocery stores when I was growing up . I also remember the groceries falling out the bottom of the bag when they broke. Plastic is much better.

[@Zeus-rq5wn]

We were guilted into plastic because paper was killing the rainforests for pine plantations. Don't you remember the climate alarmist crap from the 70's?

[@drauc]

Big chains...imagine how much respect you could get by cutting plastic out completely. I'd never shop at Walmart, but if they cut all plastic out I'd be glad to give them my business.

[@kchannel4299]

I’d like to see refillable things like tide bottles etc for our ongoing use. Or refillable shampoo bottles for example.

[@Victoria-kx3jh]

14:30 r u telling me we have a plastic look alike that is biodegradable and we still use regular plastic??!!!?!!!

[@ophylarussositzia5982]

There are a lot of plastic alternatives that are biodegradable and can be used for different things, it makes me really angry that they are not used in most countries

[@TheFourthWinchester]

Yes, we use those in India. But those things are easily torn if you don't handle it safely. And it costs a lot more than cheap plastic which is cheap to buy but way too costly to dispose of. Plastic is also ultra durable. Even the thinnest ones.

[@redanilap]

99% of the reason is that plastic is cheaper.

[@impotato4603]

Thank you for your comment.. now I have something to write in my assessment

[@inflixo36]

Rahima Nahar here in California we have to pay for bags so we might as well have it

[@kibundle]

When I was a young kid in the 60s, there was a produce clerk who'd weigh your purchase in a paper bag and mark the price in red grease pencil. This predated cashiers weighing produce in plastic. Now stores have gone plastic crazy. I enjoy health food stores that encourage bringing your own container--it's reminiscent of a saner time.

[@marley7659]

WE have enough glass, cloth, metal, and plastic to currently satisfy most people's needs. We need to stop manufacturing new plastic. We need to only keep plastic for large shipping in the form of containers. Also plastic to be recycled for electrical cables and such. Other than that we need to get rid of plastic packaging, plastic straws, plastic bags, even plastic containing clothing. We need to do things better. We have the technology to change things right now. It's just implementing it.

[@emiliesmith5032]

Marlayna Dreisinger I agree apart from the straw portion. Some disabled people, such as myself, have to use straws due to wrist problems or other factors. However, some plastics are completely unnecessary and can be avoided totally.

[@marley7659]

i don't understand, metal straws exist. I use them. They sell them at my University bookstore. They come with a straw washing brush and a cloth carry bag.@@emiliesmith5032

[@finntheheathen]

Marlayna Dreisinger metal straws can be especially difficult and detrimental for some disabled folks who happen to have issues regarding their teeth or jaw or controlled movement of the jaw. (Think of people with Turrett’s [sp?] - sometimes people can clench their teeth involuntarily, and that’s just one example.) Plastics CAN be helpful for some things, and we should not be ignoring the experiences of different people by making choices without their voices included. For many disabled folk, it’s “please still keep plastic straws - we need them” For poorer folk, it’s “make non-plastic packaged goods more affordable and accessible” This input is critical to decrease plastic effectively and in a way that everyone can partake.

[@marley7659]

What about a half metal and half silcone straw? That way the straw is still reusable/washwable and okay for those who are disabled@@finntheheathen

[@masterpalladin]

1-3 child families human reproduction/population needs to be in check...….less plastics, lots of bio hemp plastic

[@backbitting6775]

Here's some things I've found useful from this, Bring your cloth or resealable bags for produce Buy from the butcher counter with your own container Consider going to bulk food stores for your grains and flours and etc And as loblaws says "worth switching supermarkets for " - change where you shop.

[@livelongandprospermary8796]

People with allergies can’t really go to the bulk store since cross contamination is so high. also the stuff for the bulk store probably came in a bag anyway but at least is one bag per 50lbs instead of 1 per 1 lb.

[@rra7490]

Mary Hines That’s still a small percentage of people, everyone else can try the bulk options . Also just because something is in plastic doesn’t make it more sanitary, it’s a misconception.

[@karijohanna12]

Why do you need bags for produce? I haven't used them for over a year. pick the number of produce you want of onions, tomatoes, etc but in your basket and when checking out at till just place them together on the moving belt (whatever it is called) and then the worker just weighs them. Although I do know in southern European countries you need to weigh them yourself, but then just put sticker on 1 piece.

[@mina0653]

​@@karijohanna12that would only work with stuff that is sold by piece, not by weight, cashiers need to be able to check that they are charging you for weight what you actually have because people cheat with stickers all the time, what people can do is bring with them plastic bags they already have and just put a new sticker on the old one over and over until the bag fells apart and then use a net-type of bag

[@magda476]

This amount of plastic is giving me anxiety

[@basillah7650]

A discount for people that bring their own containers is not hard to do. - you are already paying for the packaging and plastic used now so would not change anything if you forget to bring something to put them in. Plastic is not needed for food items they can be behind a counter with the other deli items then paper bags/cardboard used to put them in which breaks down, unlike plastic. Plastic is used because it is cheaper

[@bumblebeez1995]

ba sillah there’s coffee companies that give discounts for bringing your own cup, but it still doesn’t encourage a lot of people to bring their own cups becuase people would rather be lazy and do things for convenience

[@franlooving4203]

But... I have been treated rudely time and time again by the workers when I ask them to put the sliced meat in my glass container and many refuse to do so. It is very frustrating that our local Whole Foods quit selling bread where I could cloth bag it. Ugg.

[@bluewaters3100]

@@franlooving4203 Ask the clerk to weigh it on a piece of paper. give you a price ticket for it and then put it in your container. They probably need to be educated on not including the price of your glass container in with the price of the sliced meat. It sounds simple to us, but some young people are just out in the market place. They need to be trained better for their minimum wage job unfortunately.

[@samlsd9711]

Corporates would rather throw that food in garbage than giving you discount.

[@imrannooraddin1876]

you do realize the huge amount of resources that go into making a paper or cloth bag opposed to a plastic alternative?

[@lsmith86]

It's not just plastic. It's also oversized containers. I say is them selling air! And candy wrappers used to be paper worked just fine!

[@thefrugallandlord2226]

Enjoy that stale candy, then.

[@hrmnpsrffn]

That empty space contains nitrogen gas which helps to preserve the food.

[@kinga4771]

Yes! We need to go back a couple of decades to the old style of markets

[@TheSamVala]

Simple: everyone can't do everything but everyone can do something. I can't avoid everything in plastic due to were I live but I can avoid some off it

[@Artix902]

This. If everyone does a little bit then the world will be much better off.

[@TheSamVala]

@@Artix902 witch was what I said 😁

[@JustAnotherRandomPersonOnline]

It always help to have more people agreeing. I agree with you, we all can do some stuff.

[@ms.mittenz]

Companies need to do something. We can only do so much, if they dont help, we can all be vegan and go 100% garbage free... www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change

[@cheerio4000]

Yeah how am I supposed to get toast. [ ‘Villagio’ bread better start coming in bio-degradable packing. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without that toast ]

[@DeborahM116]

Love the sentiment CBC, but please, next time don't conduct a report discouraging the use of plastics by purposely making a group of people purchase plastic (especially if they would otherwise be avoiding plastic)... So so counterproductive and hardly educational.

[@robertlee8805]

Yeh. What's the idea changing someone who's trying to do their part to reduce their reliance on plastics? Not effective experiment. CBC you need actual problem solvers. But thanks showing that family. I'm going to use less plastics.

[@MrBallofa]

have you read the comments, at least a few people have learned something that they may think about every-time they go shopping in the future, how is that not a benefit when weighed against 1 families, 1 shopping trip. Kind of an over exaggeration on your part.

[@tg12331]

I think it would have been more beneficial to have them go to the bigger supermarkets and see what they could even find without plastic, but still be able to use their own bags

[@emmaclaire6610]

I think they were trying to emphasise how easy plastic free was and how hard it was to go back - and point out how much cheaper plastic free is

[@machalattes]

YES! Same sentiments. Perhaps a better idea would be to have the eco friendly family guide the other less aware family through the journey.

[@melanieclark7949]

"We forgot our bags, again." I keep mine in the car.

[@femmeNikita27]

I have foldable ones inside my handbag at all times. Germany mkaes lots of them. And anyone can make one himself and fold it.

[@asmodeusasteroth7137]

In Philippines i get the boxes, they give you product boxes

[@squishysam]

Yes! I tell people to do this all the time! As well as keep a plastic bag in their backpack or purse because if they ever need to put whatever they just purchased in a bag (but can't put it in their backpack/purse), BOOM! they have one available. There's no reason why people can't do that. The plastic bags we get from the store weigh almost nothing and they take up very little space. By doing this we won't ever need to take any new plastic bags from the store - just reuse the ones we already have at home.

[@irishcladdagh3]

BS excuses....I bet they dont forget their phones

[@calleighmonton8464]

My grandmother does the same. She’s been using them even before the ban on free plastics was placed in CT, she’s got hundreds of them too

[@mariapp4825]

"I avoid single use plastics at all costs." That's the thing. The huge majority of people can't afford those costs.

[@alisa2702]

this, when they said they were swapping i was expecting they would follow each other's budgets and maybe the waste-free family would step foot into a "budget" store

[@irishcladdagh3]

Its actually cheaper when you buy less packaging....and if you are eating healthy that means you would not be eating all the junk processed that comes in plastic packaging....HELLO COMMON SENSE NEEDS RENAMING

[@mariapp4825]

@@irishcladdagh3 It may be theoretically cheaper, but that's if you have access to somewhere that sells things in bulk, the money to buy in bulk, a way to get there, a way to transport your shopping, etc, etc, etc. As for pre-packaged stuff, cooking solves that. You're speaking from a place of privilege.

[@alisa2702]

@@irishcladdagh3 when you have a limited amount of money and are trying to keep healthy your options are often stores like no frils where fruit/veg is often very overpacked or you have to buy frozen ect. the little waste-free boutique local shop things this woman goes to are often way more costly than an average person can afford.

[@Nomadic813]

that's part of the problem that can be solved by distributors like loblaws actually providing zero waste solutions. Instead of going with the PR madness and charging extra for products that have less packaging. There's a store in my town that is 100% zero packaging called Nada. Great idea. except for some reason every single thing in that store is 1.5 to 2 or 3x the cost. That's not sustainable either. that's just marketing zero waste as luxury.

[@chicangel2000]

I see a lot of people that would buy a lettuce already wrapped in plastic, and put it inside another plastic bag.

[@Camus376]

me too. Waste of petroleum

[@johnwills3539]

@@Camus376 dude the least thing we are concerned about here is the waste of petrolium

[@mysterybuyer3738]

Whats wrong with that? We always have done that.

[@walterbrunswick]

@@mysterybuyer3738 Are you daft? Don't you understand the consequences of using and throwing out so much plastics?? Watch the video again maybe!

[@mysterybuyer3738]

I have been a recycler my whole life no one would be even able to grasp the amount of stuff I have recycled since I was a kid. Recycling was a business to me and still is. The solution is not to use less. The more of a problem this plastic pollution thing becomes the sooner governments and industry will properly address it and do something. Also doing without materials like packaging is a drain on the economy by loss of jobs and economic activity. Believe me I fully understand what is going on, but I would rather have the waste dealt with instead of not having it. I can't even stand the thought of landfills. I think it is the stupidest thing man ever created. I would like to see all landfills mined and turned into energy and metals getting recycled. I also want the ocean to be free of plastic. Avoiding plastic is not the answer. Addressing the problem and reusing these resources is.

[@raymondyang9976]

I am an Indonesian, and to be honest, it is very difficult to live without plastic. I mean it is self-evident that Indonesia is the second largest plastic waste contributor. I tried my best to avoid using plastic, and I kept failing. But during those trials, I often found out that I could cut my spending tremendously. There was once that I offered my own bag instead of using the plastic bag when I was buying some books in Indonesian biggest locaI chain bookstore that refused to respect my option, stating that it was their regulation to use their own plastic bag in order to avoid shop lifting. I find it very ridiculous due to their short term benefit, and since then, i abhor that chain bookstore. I like the way how one of the participants said, " We need more options. I am supporting your business so you have to support our values." Just like NatGeo had posted, Plastic or Planet?

[@nt5060]

Just showing the reciept of the book you've bought. I also hate when only bought 1 book but need to use plastic bag. But I hope they could reduce the book plastic wrap somehow

[@llgla]

Could u return the plastic bag after buying the books?

[@boomer19]

@@llgla I'd just eat it

[@dr.hebagadallahclinicalpha9871]

We need a global effort towards this. In egypt back in 80s & 90s less than 10% of our packging was plastic. The rest was biodegradable materials. Biodegradable and reusable packaging need to be a global concern.

[@Winterseeker]

Fantastic journalism - every show you guys do makes Canadians smarter, more engaged, and our country overall, better off. Thank you!

[@masterpalladin]

​ average american houses houses for 2-3 bedroom's and 1-2 bathrooms can be 700-900 square ft....built with hemp bricks to reduce heating, geothermal heating, natural gas etc and back up woodstove can burn trash for energy, biodegradable hemp plastic......legalize hemp world wide....if US/british government never prohibited it half our cars could be made with hemp plastic. Furniture, cloths, countertops, flooring, cabinetry could be mostly made from hemp...also plastics especially single use bags can be recycled into burnable fuel.....thorium energy, geothermal, trash burning can be the main energy sources, algae could potentially replace or greatly offset fuel for combustion engines

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Thank you for uploading this for us Americans!

[@kylealexander7024]

@space lapis plastic bags really r a drop in the bucket. Think about all the things u buy that r wrapped in plastic u cant re use. Or reciepts or soap with beads in it. It all has plastic. Til oil stops being used for plastic this problem will be on going

[@qualqui]

And ditto for us Mexicans!

[@Smooth_Operator]

but if they don't use plastic where will the recycled plastic go lol

[@tommyjohson3193]

For the world

[@rkevic]

i get anxiety when i throw away bottles to the trash rather than recycling.

[@mariancrow5402]

why does something with an expiry date of a month, six months, a year at best, need to be in a plastic container with an expiry date 20K years into the future?

[@katieismobile8898]

some have tin containers ;)

[@mariancrow5402]

@@katieismobile8898 i have no complaint with tin. it goes back into the ground and after 20 years or so is brittle and flakes if you touch it. in ontario we get milk in plastic bags and they do not recycle anywhere anymore.

[@davidbrewer7937]

So it can spend 6 months in a rat invested container ship travelling from Indonesia to Canada...

[@stinkycheese804]

If you don't know then you need to stop asking questions as if you think you have a secret insight and instead educate yourself. It is very clear to see how we got to where we are and what the solution is which is to make containers as long lasting and durable as possible so they are in the most recyclable state possible so we quit raping the land to make more materials for no reason. Plastics are the best thing to come out of the last century. Without them you wouldn't even have your computer or phone as a means to post your message.

[@itsfissy4057]

Because it begins to oxidize when it’s out of the plastic, so it starts rotting.

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

Because the pressure of landfill on the plant-based "plastics" prevents the anaerobic activity needed to break it down, even compostable plastics aren't the answer (research done by a New Zealand chain of supermarkets that I used to shop at. There is certainly more research showing this, but I don't have time to find it for this post). We need to use cloth bags, waxed paper, glass, etc. Like we did a couple of decades ago. Easy, no waste. Glass can be returned for the deposit, and it is sterilised for re-use. *That's* a profitable area of employment waiting to happen.

[@arboristable]

Great comment R

[@Nicholas-f5]

At least bio plastics avoid the oil on the front end.

[@goosty17]

@@Nicholas-f5 it still does not help... Bio plastic does not degrade fast enough so the impact is still there for many years. Especially for wildlife when that plastic is not disposed of properly...

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

@@Nicholas-f5 Biodegradable plastic is still petroleum based, and breaks down into the micro-plastics that are such a menace. Do you mean "compostable" plastics?

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

@@goosty17 Beware of "biodegradable" plastics. They're made from petroleum and break down into micro-plastics, not compost. Only "compostable" plastics are plant based and can break down into compost under the right conditions.

[@random-code1]

OMG I was in Tokyo last summer and I SHOCKED about how much plastic packaging there is. One single product wrapped with layers of plastic. It’s absurd.

[@injusticeanywherethreatens4810]

Also How the heck does Tokyo keep its streets so clean too?!

[@soko889]

Plastic should have been dealt with long before China stopped accepting other countries waste.

[@masterpalladin]

​average american houses houses for 2-3 bedroom's and 1-2 bathrooms can be 700-900 square ft....built with hemp bricks to reduce heating, geothermal heating, natural gas etc and back up woodstove can burn trash for energy, biodegradable hemp plastic......legalize hemp world wide....if US/british government never prohibited it half our cars could be made with hemp plastic. Furniture, cloths, countertops, flooring, cabinetry could be mostly made from hemp...also plastics especially single use bags can be recycled into burnable fuel.....thorium energy, geothermal, trash burning can be the main energy sources, algae could potentially replace or greatly offset fuel for combustion engines

[@merrinatrix]

Bulk barn allows you to bring your own containers. Vancouver has a shop called Nada and another called The Soap Dispensary where you can bring your own containers, even to refill things like detergents and food items. We have to vote with our wallets.

[@MJ-ib7iq]

Most places in the US, don’t allow it b/c of health regulations, it’s so disappointing

[@lifeisawesome1391]

But I can't buy fresh produce at Bulk Barn

[@lloydchristmas4547]

I agree. I've reduced my wastes over the years.

[@Liefpj]

Life is Awesome I just put my fresh produce in the basket and then they put it in my big cloth bag. They might give you some guff but they have to see the change.

[@sophian6965]

I live in Surrey and have recently started shopping at both Nada and The Soap Dispensary. However, I can only go when I have a reason to go to Vancouver because it's a long drive. It would be AMAZING if they could open a place nearer to where I live.

[@Exoplanet248]

"A coconut? Really? They should be ashamed of themselves"

[@thomasgeorge7633]

Went to a store yesterday and saw 3 potatoes in a plastic container and wrapped in clear plastic.

[@bendingbananas6540]

they should 😒

[@BryceCampbell]

As someone young (29) I remember growing up in that grocery stores didnt have nearly as much plastic packaging as they have now, just the produce departments were pretty much plastic free. What I can see of part of the issue is that the focus has gone away from store-based services. Most retailers don't have store stock or services anymore and now depend on overnight freight from a warehouse.

[@PHlophe]

Bryce, il y en a toujours eu en fait. Et de partout. Je trouve deja problématique que des noix de coco traversent deux océans pour arriver dans ma ville. On ne devrait pas dutout en avoir dans ce pays. D'ou l'utilisation d'emballage plastique partout et n'importe comment. Si je veux manger des avocats ou de la noix de coco , je vais aux Antilles.

[@katieismobile8898]

I used Google Translate: Bryce, there have always been some. And everywhere. I already find it problematic that coconuts cross two oceans to arrive in my city. We should not have anything in this country. Hence the use of plastic packaging everywhere and no matter how. If I want to eat avocados or coconut, I go to the West Indies.

[@yvonnem.langlois5197]

@@katieismobile8898 Air travel doesn't much help the planet.

[@TheAru99]

Why the city mayors and counselors are not part of this conversation? Ultimately, cities are footing the bills to dispose these unnecessary wastes and passing the cost to the rate payers. Also, they have the leverage to put additional garbage collection fees against these big chains.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Excellent points.

[@Nicholas-f5]

Agreed, we all need to talk with our cities.

[@honeybadgerisme]

Street Talker yes! And not even touching on how the chemicals that leach into the ground water from plastics have caused hormone disrupters and even malformations in the animal kingdom (no researcher who wants to ever have a job will touch on the human affects...)

[@mandyemais]

Exactly!

[@banshee1133]

A few cities where I'm from have banned plastic bags in groceries and department stores. So you either bring your own bag or suffer using paper bags.

[@alicia-hd2cs]

People who do care and make a change, are closer to their natural harmony and roots of the earth. How beautiful.

[@yoxcasmu8827]

I´m from Mexico and I use reusable fabric bags for my groceries and some fabric net bags for the fruit and veggies at the market. I also try to avoid plastic :D

[@classycassie1118]

We have to recycle where I live. It's the law. I have 3 trash cans in my kitchen and a compost tin on the balcony. I always carry a reusable bag when shopping. I have an insulated water bottle that I take everywhere with me. I keep a pouch with stainless steel utensils in my bag so I dont have to use plastic ones when eating out. I'm aware that I'm not going to make a huge difference in the world but it's the little things.

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

@Amy Sternheim Don't feel guilty! Better late than never. At least now you do it, spread the word!

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

Every little thing counts. Imagine if most people did this, imagine the difference it could make. I have embarked on a low waste lifestyle, I have a reusable bottle, bag, utensils, napkin, produce bags, other containers for the bulk store, I try to get my soaps and cleaning stuff refilled at a local store that you can bring your own containers to. Little by little this movement is growing, keep doing what you are and spread the word, and people see you do this and the best thing to do is lead by example and talk about it.

[@debbiehenri7170]

@Amy Sternheim I like composting too. I have been doing this for the past 25 years. I like adding fern leaves and moss in layers between the kitchen waste, really breaks down nicely and adds a bit of lightness and air to the final product. Also, did you find once you started composting you began figuring out more and more things you can put in the heap/composter? Like Ana says - don't feel guilty you didn't start sooner. Everyone wishes the same thing once they realise the benefits. I keep thinking of all those bags of compost I used to buy. Needn't have bought a single one had I begun things the right way!

[@gigieyre]

You are making a difference. Plus hopefully people see you and realize that it can be done. It just takes thought and eventually it will become their normal. We just have to break the habit of what we are used to.

[@karene.3838]

But like he said, even if you recycle, it may just end up in land fills because they don’t have the resources to take care of it properly. That makes me mad. If we the people are trying to do our part, why shouldn’t they do theirs?!

[@naomimay82]

I have a ton of reusable shopping bags. Recently I bought some mesh produce bags so I don’t have to put my produce in the thin paper bags. I am seriously loving my reusable produce bags!!! I have slowly been reducing my plastics over the last 7 years. I stopped buying commercial cleaning products 7 years ago, and that was my start. It has been a long journey, but my waste has greatly reduced over the years.

[@Pohlmaster]

Yes! I think, that’s the way to go. Take little steps day by day. My journey began a few months ago. It started by using cotton cloths instead of paper towels for the kitchen. Then shampoo-bars instead of plastic packed bottles. Deo-creams in glass bottles instead of deo-sprays in plastic bottles. No toothpaste but these tabs. Dishwashing-bar. Reusable female hygiene products (I love them). And I will go on step by step.

[@naomimay82]

@@Pohlmaster I have been using washable feminine hygiene products for about 5 years now. I would never go back to disposables! My daughter switched to washables as well. I love the idea of how much disposable pads and tampons we have kept out of the landfills over the last five years.

[@MarsyeloNo.9117]

Plastic gives the illusion of cleanliness and being sanitary. It's also a marketing gimic. Presents the merchandise in a uniform way. Also, lawsuits.

[@MNeathway]

Tanya Dangl I think dispelling that illusion will take a lot of people working to normalize reducing plastic until it becomes the default

[@masterpalladin]

​average american houses houses for 2-3 bedroom's and 1-2 bathrooms can be 700-900 square ft....built with hemp bricks to reduce heating, geothermal heating, natural gas etc and back up woodstove can burn trash for energy, biodegradable hemp plastic......legalize hemp world wide....if US/british government never prohibited it half our cars could be made with hemp plastic. Furniture, cloths, countertops, flooring, cabinetry could be mostly made from hemp...also plastics especially single use bags can be recycled into burnable fuel.....thorium energy, geothermal, trash burning can be the main energy sources, algae could potentially replace or greatly offset fuel for combustion engines

[@rowenaanderson3739]

I used to be like the plastic family but am now nearly in line with the waste-free family. How did I do it? 1. Don't buy processed foods (this is a major one) 2. Buy your ingredients from a bulk store where you can fill your own containers. 3. Grow your own veg Good luck everyone :)

[@nizarr21]

Thankyou for this 🙌

[@jellybean3524]

Low income communities don’t have access to this though. They’d have to drive out far to wealthier communities in order to achieve this. I think people should start evocation for these sort of things in low income communities, since they don’t really have access to this, making it much harder for the majority of the population.

[@marcigarcia4235]

“The potatoes ,ridiculous. The grapes , ridiculous.” “The eggs, disgraceful.”

[@capmarketer5038]

Private, backyard gardens and indoor hydroponic gardens are part of the answer to cut down on grocery shopping.

[@KatharineOsborne]

Cap Marketer not everyone has access to a garden (I don’t). My flat is compact; not much room for hydroponics. I can’t really grow anything beyond the scale of a few herbs. Not everyone lives in suburbia with a car and a detached house. There’s definitely room for supermarkets to step up and do their part.

[@maddie153423]

Or more community gardens in neighborhoods

[@miaa7097]

i live in NWT in an apartment. how can i do what u suggested

[@EmilyRamsaySTP]

One of the problems is that suppliers and major chains aren't making the changes. Being able to do what you suggest definitely gives a small sense of accomplishment that you are doing what you can, but if suppliers are feeding 7 billion people around the world shouldn't they be the ones to make the biggest changes?

[@capmarketer5038]

Emily Ramsay not if they aren’t delivering what consumers want/need

[@Dup4romana365]

many times I see that fruits with plastic packaging are cheaper than the one without.... where is the logic?

[@musicianonamission8435]

Unwrapped produce is often locally grown.

[@creedymarks]

I work at a fruit shop. The packaged fruit is often lower quality than the individual, so it's kind of a "bulk" sale of lesser qualit products.

[@AshHeaven]

Maybe they package the defective and bruised produce to make it look fancy, so they can get rid of that stock at lower prices.

[@lwgg742]

@@asificam1 Plastics leak much more dangerous chemicals, so in that theory produce in plastics would be more expensive instead of cheaper.

[@TheBoilingICE]

Bulk sale discount, mass industrial production, and cheaper transportation with plastic wraps. HUGE logic behind.

[@N0xKn1ght]

Also note that instead of going after the supermarket you should be going after the manufacturers, producers and suppliers well before you go after the mass distributer.... probably make a bigger impact!!!!

[@mitchl4456]

i think cbc should also look at how people are recycling what they have. i work on a recycle truck, and i find at least 1 pair of shoes in the bins everyday. Also where i like we pick up paper and cardboard in one bin and cans class and plastic in another. people mix it all together all the time and it makes that load very hard to recycle.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

I've noticed this and I feel for the workers like you. People can be very lazy. I agree that Marketplace should make an episode about how to recycle properly.

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

Agreed. The things I see in the recycling bins in my building sometimes. Ugh. I was actually going to write to Marketplace suggesting they do an episode about the recycling problems.

[@debbiehenri7170]

I have seen an open baked bean can, half full of beans, at the top of the can bank. Just disgusting. Also, thugs set fire to a paper recycle bank.

[@Clipeuh]

there was a report done last year in montreal that had car batteries, tires and other random stuff all in the recycling bin.

[@bonbonbons]

This kind of negligence is illegal in many countries, when I lived in South Korea you and your landlord would be fined for improper sorting (and the system was a lot more complicated than most English speaking countries')

[@karenstevensboykin3550]

It takes more effort to recycle but the reward 100 years from now will make it all worthwhile. I make my own bags out of recycled material and always use them.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Absolutely.

[@PHlophe]

Karen est ce que tu sais quels bout de plastiques sont toxique et pas recyclables ? Pourquoi ne pas utiliser le bon vieux sac de Mamie ?

[@kenbob1071]

Sometimes I just bring a cardboard box. The checkers love them because they are much easier to pack than a cloth bag.

[@kittydollsxo189]

I won't be alive in 100 years

[@misacruzader]

Do you have the stores "Tare" your bags before you use them? Because fabric bags are invariably heavier than plastic, and that cost would easily add up over time...

[@charlenelariosa8797]

I don't understand why a family that didn't waste plastic had to switch, like this contributes to the problem!!??

[@LissaxKristine]

I agree. I think it would've been better to have them shop in some of the stores that the family who isn't zero waste shops at INSTEAD of the local bulk stores to show how a family that normally shops zero waste would handle a grocery store that doesn't have bulk bins, etc.

[@jessicadayla]

I'll say paying for plastic bags makes me want them a whole lot less. Would love to see the use of environmentally unfriendly plastics end, it feels so wasteful.

[@j1mster3]

Deep down people are shallow and judge the outside of products(and people) more than you would expect. Presentation is everything. Especially for profit, brands are trying to make it look better than it is. Sad.

[@jessicadayla]

@@j1mster3 which is why normalization of better practices is so important.

[@jackmckenna8410]

where I live, if you buy one item, they just automatically put it in a plastic bag. I always say " I carried it up here without a bag, I can carry it home without one". Also, sadly, I have to verbally request my grocery bagger to always put more than one item in a bag, and they look at me confusedly. Then I have to explain that if only one thing is inside, the bag is not needed. I hope my actions rub off on some people eventually.

[@katieismobile8898]

The sad thing is the plastic lasts longer than the bags the stores sell you as reusable cloth bags. I have seen the cloth bags fall apart so easily on their own without much use. So some people like to use the plastic bags as reuse bags. It is where they ultimately go however when they are discarded that is a huge problem.

[@masterpalladin]

​average american houses houses for 2-3 bedroom's and 1-2 bathrooms can be 700-900 square ft....built with hemp bricks to reduce heating, geothermal heating, natural gas etc and back up woodstove can burn trash for energy, biodegradable hemp plastic......legalize hemp world wide....if US/british government never prohibited it half our cars could be made with hemp plastic. Furniture, cloths, countertops, flooring, cabinetry could be mostly made from hemp...also plastics especially single use bags can be recycled into burnable fuel.....thorium energy, geothermal, trash burning can be the main energy sources, algae could potentially replace or greatly offset fuel for combustion engines

[@kate3559]

The UK supermarket used as an example is located in a very expensive area of London. Also, only small parts of that store are plastic free. UK has as much of a problem with plastic as Canada in regards to plastic use by supermarkets.

[@KatharineOsborne]

Kate do you know where this specific Budgen’s is? (I live in London and my NY resolution is to reduce my single use plastic). Would love to go there to help support this idea spreading.

[@kaelaleedaley]

@@KatharineOsborne I just googled it and an 'Independent' article sites it as being in Camden's Belsize Park x

[@KatharineOsborne]

Nice, thank you!

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

The more people demand it the more store will have to get on board, the more stores get on board the cheaper the alternative packaging will become, and the budget stores will get on board as well.

[@debbiehenri7170]

That's right. This video makes it look like Britain is somewhat more green than it is, and that Budgens might be a commonly found store. Truth is, stores began disappearing from many places when I was a teen and still living in the south. I last saw a Budgens about 5 years ago.

[@Sam-hh9fr]

I like how this video doesn't demonise the people who aren't trying zero waste. Because at the end of the day the companies need to change and people will do whatever is avaliable.

[@igitha..._]

I remember that fad they had in Australia where they were trying to sell peeled bananas in plastic packaging and it didn't work because the peel of the banana did a better job than the plastic anyway!

[@LissaxKristine]

Keep in mind that things like pre-peeled bananas and oranges/clementines/tangerines or pre-cut fruits and vegetables wrapped in plastic help to serve disabled individuals who may not have the physical strength and/or dexterity to prepare those items themselves. Though, I do think that an alternative could be to have a station at the grocery store where anyone can have their produce pre-chopped/peeled upon request. That would at least limit the amount of packaging. r

[@osogoodgirl]

WOW!!! That's mind boggling! Who would want a peeled banana anyway?! Even if I were disabled, it just seems really gross having a prepeeled banana.

[@coolbeanismymiddlename9274]

"I don't appreciate all the plastic" he says, while holding his coffee cup with a plastic lid ...

[@wendyparsons2980]

hell Bent are you sure those type of “disposable” cups are recyclable at all? Sometimes the plastic lids can be recycled... I do question plastic items sometimes tho, like if it’s not specifically marked do we automatically assume it is not recyclable? I’ve often wondered about that because it is such an awful shame to not be able to at the very least recycle plastic when it cannot be avoided.

[@bumblebeez1995]

It’s not the sturdy plastic items that are meant to be reused that are the problem, it’s it’s the thin packaging plastic that can’t be recycled that end up in the trash.

[@colegaud]

...that's all of the people in the video, just instead with their plastic wrapped goods

[@jordanalysia4834]

It’s still all plastic whether is it reusable or not.

[@JustAnotherRandomPersonOnline]

Hey, if it lasts a long time who cares? With the ability that plastic has it SHOULD be used for things that will last a LONG time be made to last a long time. The most major problem with plastics at this moment in time is the one time use cheap crude that you can't even reuse unless you use two or three of them at a time!

[@ebybeehoney]

Why are companies allowed to make a product no one knows how to deal with later?

[@cl8759]

Kate because our government cares about money, not us and definitely not the planet we live on

[@kchannel4299]

The same could be said with outdated electronics or cars as well

[@yanopam1435]

greed. period

[@mobilenotherwise5000]

capitalism

[@Monica-vv8sc]

It is immoral and unethical. I know.

[@idkwtvr4844]

Personally I think the worst one is the avocado halves near the end... if you don’t cut the avocado then you can save so much packaging

[@nelhuiliztli2926]

In my state Utah, of the US. I worked in Harmon’s, the third largest supermarket in the state. By most people, they consider it as the green-est supermarket in the state, and in every stores they promote recycling. They also have bins to recycle plastic bags and aluminum cans and glass, so every day people come in to recycle their recyclables. But, to tell you the truth, they don’t recycle any of it. Those plastics, metals, and glass head straight toward the garbage. The only thing they do recycle are cardboards. That totally surprised me coming from a store that promotes recycling.

[@melanie3869]

Nelhuiliztli I work in a Harmons and they are always saying recycling is the big goal . However , many consumers do bring their own bags and care about the earth ... 😇

[@nelhuiliztli2926]

That is true, just wish they don’t lie and actually commit to recycling.

[@melanie3869]

Nelhuiliztli : True since a lot of people do go there and they think that Harmons is somewhat recycling company. I know my Harmons doesn’t accept plastic bags no more . Ofc lol

[@eklectiktoni]

That's tragic.

[@Neonravekid]

Metal and glass can be recycled indefinitely. Absolutely disgraceful.

[@jamiebutcher8698]

I would love to go plastic free, however where I live in the US I don’t have a “bulk” grocery store where I can get plastic free groceries. I only have Walmart where almost everything including the lettuce is in plastic..

[@naomimay82]

Jamie Butcher I have always thought that, since I live in the US also. I just found out there is a grocery store called Whole Foods within driving distance. I am super stoked!!! I am making a drive this weekend to find this store!

[@matthewwaterhouse9925]

@@naomimay82 I love Whole Foods, but the problem I have is that the bulk bins are often more expensive per unit than the plastic packaged items. If you are consuming all of the food the plastic packaging, then you're going to pay more for the same amount from the package free foods.

[@naomimay82]

Matthew Waterhouse I have recently discovered this as well. The only thing I have found cheaper in the bulk bins is organic lentils. Everything else is cheaper to buy in plastic packaging.

[@electroplaque]

@@matthewwaterhouse9925 The question is how much more expensive? If it's a few dollars a week more expensive it doesn't matter for the majority of shoppers. Maybe food should be marginally more expensive, since we are now not paying the full price of the trash. Obesity and food waste is a growing problem, we as a society have enough money for food.

[@jsilva7005]

Where do you live that you only have walmart?

[@imtired6614]

I go to aldi, they don’t have plastic bags and if you do need one, you have to pay for one that’s made out of very durable plastic. They’re designed to be reused. Also they have really good customer service, WONDERFUL prices, and cardboard “boxes” which you can use instead of a bag (that’s what my dad does lol) Edit: and yes the egg cartons are made from recycled paper :) I’m only 14 but when I’m able to get a job and live in a home, I want to be able to help the environment as much as I can, not to mention that I absolutely love cooking and without the plastic that contains the foods, this forces me to directly buy and cook foods fresh😋 which sounds weird but I think it would be wonderful

[@vcrface]

what's needed is like what they have in Japan.all food being bought is in glass, then you drop off the glass to be cleaned and reused for the same product. like pic a pop. but for everything.

[@veronicav924]

I've started to use separate waste bins for plastic and paper waste and this made me realise how much waste we produce...each 2 weeks we throw away a huge bag of plastics. Now I will try my best to avoid plastic packaging when possible...we only have one planet😭

[@Pohlmaster]

I recommend using reusables in your everyday life to reduce waste. I for example started by using cotton cloths instead of paper towels in the kitchen, soap bars instead of soap in plastic bottles (same with shampoo). Also there are many really good „Zero-waste“-KZbinrs you can follow who give useful tips to reduce waste.

[@emmafoley8987]

Really sheds light on how much your location and time to do research impacts your ability to find plastic-free alternatives. Without systemic changes, it requires significant time, energy, and money for individuals to reduce their waste.

[@asteri8299]

tea bag boxes wrapped in a film of plastic is probably one of the most unnessasary uses of plastic packaging because not only are the tea bags places in a wax paper bag thats sealed and then into a cardboard box as packaging /the box itself gets shrink wrapped/.

[@ohhi5237]

i dont want soggy tea

[@selalewis9189]

This is once again putting the onus on consumers and not suppliers and distributors. We’re not irresponsible plastic addicts. We’re buying groceries. Clearly all these microscopic efforts to change our buying habits are not working, because it’s not even fundamentally our fault. Even the most environmentally conscious consumers can not get around this problem. Governing bodies need to put more pressure on packaging distributors to reduce and eliminate excess plastic, rather than virtue signaling to consumers.

[@kaelaleedaley]

I completely agree - the end user (consumer) is often portrayed as irresponsible and unconcerned for the environment. I believe that plastic has become everyone's problem and we all must share our burden of responsibility by being good stewards of our produce and of the earth. Manufacturers MUST take a greater responsibility for their operations and ensure that they are as concerned about plastics as they would be about cross-contamination or added chemicals x

[@Nicholas-f5]

Both.

[@AlphineWolf]

Don't forget that market demand can do wonders.

[@worldcitizenra]

@Sela Lewis - Did you watch the entire video? Although the story was about a trial activity by consumers, the video repeatedly stated that suppliers, distributors, and stores should change and could change if they wanted to. There was consistent emphasis on the responsibility of retailers. The real message wasn't that consumers should stop buying things wrapped in plastic, although that would help. The real message is that consumers can and should pressure retailers, suppliers, distributors to implement packaging reduction overall and plastic reduction specifically. The stores aren't going to do anything unless consumers pressure them. Unfortunately, to apply pressure most effectively, there has to be at least one relatively convenient retail option that is already doing the right thing about plastic packaging. If consumers don't have a buying alternatively, it is more difficult to use the threat of taking their business elsewhere.

[@AlphineWolf]

the onus is also on the consumer not to steal. When I was young mandarin oranges at supermarkets came in paper boxes. Except people stole them. they'd stuff the box they'd buy over full by stealing a couple from another box. Now they are only in plastic mesh bags.

[@Victor-tl4dk]

I work as a cashier at a produce place and I was told to use more bags. It's amazing how much plastic they waste. Although I do admit a good bit of there stuff is not in plastic.

[@wisamal-kinani6315]

This is really eye opening. I never really thought of this issue before.

[@E.j.Robinson]

I would like to see more on how that family shops avoiding plastics the tips shown I already know, but I know there's more to learn, super impressed with their limited waste.

[@femmeNikita27]

there are zerowaste blogs.

[@MichaelMurkovic]

Seemed like a big income difference between these two families. Wonder how income compares with the plastic usage.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Produce is healthier, cheaper, and the least wasteful as it require minimal packaging if any at all. Income isn't a factor at all.

[@ytyt3922]

Not to mention IQ. The environmentally friendly family is obviously brighter.

[@X-Factor-by2kz]

I bet their budgets were vastly different. Doesn’t seem economical to avoid plastic. I’m not willing to spend more to avoid plastic...gotta get the most for my hard earned dollar.

[@Nicholas-f5]

Poor people make more mindless pollution.

[@Nicholas-f5]

@@X-Factor-by2kz is selfish.

[@jonathancheng5650]

Marketplace is back!!!!!

[@meganhulen3911]

I wish Walmart would do that way more

[@nslouka90]

Except they don’t care about the environment unless it’s stopping them from making profits.

[@youtubebubble144]

so true! thank you for reporting this issue!

[@Conhead66]

Why take a family that is doing responsible choice to ask them just "waste for the shake of entertaining us seeing you waste"? Why did this accept to waste for the show? I wouldn't accept anyone to bring me back. We all get the picture it's terrible to buy packages food/items. The responsible family should had been there to show us how they do it every week and how it's just a question of finding your baring and then it gets easier. Lets all make responsible choices and show the big companies that they won't accept it when they are wasteful. But my question is they can easily do greenwashing by emptying the food from the over package, put it on the sheves and pretend there was no packaging. So here's another one for Market Place; investigate to make sure that company that are saying/showing us they reduce they waste are actually doing it and not just simply "showing us" but in real they are just as wasteful.

[@femmeNikita27]

Solution is very simple. Tax them on using it. Companies cannot escape regulators checking for mistakes that would require paying taxes, so taxing on something always results in mass avoidance of this thing by companies. As simple as that.

[@nellyrox91]

The zero waste family should've gone shopping with the other family and taught them how to shop smarter

[@judyruane5930]

Conhead66 m

[@Conhead66]

@@femmeNikita27 It would be wonderful if it was that simple but no one like a politician that starts putting taxes everywhere even when we all know that it's to help companies and people make better choices for the good of our planet. We need all parties to participate: government, customers and companies.

[@Bronxchick92]

@@nellyrox91 That sounds like a good idea but the Zero/low waste family has a advantage to the family that just started to recycle because they are able to shop in bulk. Not realizing that I watched this already until I saw my comment was when I realized when the family did the grocery shopping swap it was a little unfair because the family couldn't/didn't shop in bulk to reduce plastic waste.

[@k.w.1459]

I have been striving for zero waste for over a year. It's going great. This is an important conversation to continue having. I use citrus rinds after use creating a cleaning spray. If I buy chips in bags or bread, I use the bags AS my trash bags. I only use about 1-2 chip bags every couple of months. I COMPOST food waste, which is a huge burden to landfills - and shouldn't be put in landfill. I attempt to educate everyone that wants to talk about it and put up educational flyers at work. It's exhausting sometimes when people don't listen or remain ignorant :(

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

Since finding out that other towns and cities don't have bulk sellers, I am truly grateful that there are two Bulk Barns within a bus ride of me. Years ago, when eggs suddenly became sold in plastic, I just stopped buying eggs. Not only was the pulped paper guilt-free and a money-maker for paper recyclers; it was also a much better shock-absorber (and therefore better packaging) for the eggs. You could also do cool crafts with it. I buy my bread fresh and in paper. I used to be able to buy rolls in a bulk section of the supermarket and put them in a paper bag, but a few years ago the supermarket chain stopped selling rolls that way and now only sell them in plastic bags. So, I don't buy rolls. My grocery store charges for plastic bags as I think everywhere in Canada does, now, but people still buy them. I'm in a low-income area and you would think that the extra cost would encourage people to bring their own bags. Unfortunately, people still prefer the convenience of plastic. Therefore, rules have to change about the availability of plastic. If it becomes more inconvenient to use plastic than reusable bags, people will switch over. It is up to supermarkets, vendors, and the government. I was initially perturbed when I found out that the supermarket I used to buy groceries from in New Zealand had not only stopped making plastic bags available, but had also refused to use plant-based "compostable" plastic bags. But their explanation makes sense. They have found that the plant-based plastics, while compostable, do not break down in the landfill because they're compressed under layers of garbage, and the anaerobic process for composting them doesn't happen. That anaerobic process is why we have to turn compost as we create it. And in the landfill it simply doesn't happen. Our municipalities have to find a way to allow us to compost again. Currently in Hamilton, the composting facilities are down. Food and other organic waste produces a toxic "juice" that can contaminate the water table if not removed. With our land crying out for natural nutrients, this inability to turn our organics into compost is a disaster. "Biodegradable" plastic is just petroleum-based plastic that is made to break down into tiny bits of plastic; micro-plastics. They are a menace and we need to be aware of the difference between them and compostable plastic. Loblaws' "incremental" changes are far from anywhere near enough. Because they fearfully stick to their policy of putting everything in plastic, I have had to drop more and more items from my grocery list. Their lack of foresight is not only costing the planet; it is costing them money as customers fall away and either stop buying from them, move to a vendor who will provide plastic-free shopping, or both. Either way,our supermarkets' short-sighted fearfulness is costing them money. They need to step up and take action on the waste problem that they're causing.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Well said. Thanks for being conscience.

[@ytyt3922]

About eggs - why on earth are they no longer packaged in those cardboard shells? easily recyclable. You do sometimes still see the old cardboard shells but now more often than not eggs are placed in hard plastic. Pisses me off.

[@yvonnem.langlois5197]

I have done the same and make sure that the store knows it. If more of us do this, they will get the message.

[@lemonielala3080]

In Finland the meat at the butchers counter in the supermarket is packed in waxed paper.👍 If it's something particulately wet/drippy the paper parcel is put in a plastic bag however. But you can ask them not to. What you can't escape is the plastic gloves they use behind the counter. But why couldn't those be made out of the cellulose "plastic"? Hmmm. 🤔 This plastic-free thing could actually be a fun experiment! We recycle as much as possible in our house but all plastic isn't even recyclable.. oh, and the worst case of over packaging I've seen was bananas wrapped in plastic. I mean... they have their own packaging already?! But yeah, that coconut takes the prize! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DanielWDonuts]

Plastic is recycle, your getting confused with plastic bags. Wrap them in a ball and put it in the recycle and your good

[@lilywest9552]

Or reusable gloves like the ones you would use when washing up

[@ca_lcium]

In here, people also actively recycle plastic bottles and beer cans because they usually have a small return of the price you've paid for. Crazy how even as small amount as 20 cents money back can motivate people

[@randomstranger5]

Oispa meilläkin tollanen ”bulk”

[@femmeNikita27]

Well, there are latex free natural gloves that could be single use. Maybe your country could introduce them? If surgeons can use them, butchers could too. In medicine they became popular due to mortal cases of latex allergy post operation among surgeons and due to high cost or recycling latex based ones. Latex free naturally decompose, so can be composted.

[@camille6679]

That was so kind of the journalist to just offer the jar and alternative bags to the people outside of the store, honestly with what i've seen (the research that i've done) the most expensive part of going plastic free is the alternative to the plastic bags and the container.

[@mickibabe5495]

Make all grocery stores bulk and package free. And with stuff that has to be packaged, make the packaging compostable

[@Twatical]

thank you Aristotle

[@cheerio4000]

Bread should be wrapped in paper however

[@dddx3x826]

I live in Mexico and I rarely use plastic anymore, I just go to the market that is even cheaper and take my Tupperware, it’s not that hard 🙃

[@mcdonalds452]

This is why CBC is my favorite media

[@MissMaggieLicious]

I'm glad to live in Berkeley near san Francisco where not only we r required to recycling for three different type of trash, plastic, papers, medication, or electronic use. In Berkeley we have quiet some stores that are much less plastic , or the bag is bio degrade use, and we have a lot of options for buying flour, rice, chocolate, fruit and veg all plastic free!! Just bring your own jar or box. I really like the idea of this!! First I'm not married and have no kids, so if I were going Costco and those products are way too much for myself, and I always hate those packaging leave behind, (except my paper box my cats love to play with it.) But if I go to the smaller store I can buy how much I eat or need. Instead of waste food when food goes bad quickly in weeks. Isn't that better?? Even with family, we can still buying without packaging. I like it how it can adjust the amount of food or uses.

[@MissMaggieLicious]

Guys, start using your stainless steel or silicone straws, I love mine. They got all sizes and easy to clean, comes with cleaning brush tool I got mine stainless steel set of 8 for $10 but reuse for longgggg long years? That's nothing. Or just simply don't use straws... I honestly didn't buy any plastic bottle of water for two years. If I can do it. U can do too.

[@charleenhopkins3590]

we are going plastic free in nz

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Awesome.

[@Nicholas-f5]

that rhymes

[@dragimochi9716]

Not fully but countdown and paknsave started :) im so happy i just wish they would include more stores to do so. I mean nothing hurts to use cardboard boxes for packaging even the usual goods not just food right.

[@nadiahakimm]

AND DUMP ALL THE PLASTICS IN MALAYSIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

[@CloudNine661]

@@dragimochi9716 New World is officially plastic bag free too. Although i get why some types of packaging is necessary for things that have been processed for preservation purposes, however it is a start.

[@stardust16]

Awesome to see these awesome people in the UK making a difference in the world.

[@morticiapompom]

Ok but every time he said Loblaw all I could think of was Bob Loblaw Law Blog

[@Lionesse-z41553]

Yes! Hahaha!

[@desertguy1362]

Thank you! i was wondering if it was just me.

[@soplv605]

They flew across the Atlantic twice to get a few seconds of footage with that guy and the UK people in the same frame. Very environmentally friendly. They could've easily shot the footage separately and had someone from the UK do the interview or do it over Skype.

[@ethereal1257]

Truly eye opening! I have to admit I have never taken this very seriously. Mostly because I didnt know what I could do in my own daily life to make impactful changes. After watching this it really made me realize how serious each small plastic use is. I really like the plant based compostable wrapping idea. I think many people like me, who simply haven't grown up around environmentally conscious people need to know environmentally safe, easy options that are available as well. I will be looking into this myself more now. I would really like to see more education out there instead of snubbed noses and attitudes at folks who are not educated about how to make changes that are convienent and cost efficient. I would also like to see changes implemented in grocery stores for handicapped individuals regarding this and accessibility to products. They really go hand in hand.

[@just_in_key]

Fruits and vegetables dont grow on plastic so why we wrap them with plastic 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@IsomerMashups]

Humans don't grow clothes naturally, so why do we wear them?

[@songbirdforjesus2381]

The elderly on SS cannot afford this. So sad. Neither can the poor right now. Back to the past, before plastic

[@edmundtan3948]

Great video and knowledge on plastics and how consumers and corporations can play their part. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

[@fuzybear15]

Some stores offer mushrooms in paper bags, but others dont have paper bags or even bulk mushrooms. WTF?

[@Cleanwave]

Thank you for helping spreading awareness! We just filmed a documentary about plastic in the Mediterranean which we have posted for free on our channel.

[@pepper419]

I bought real peanut butter in Oz. It comes in a glass jar and the difference is incredible. You can notice the difference as soon as you take the lid off because the smell is so strong. This is the difference between a company who cares and the rest. The ingredients were just peanuts and peanut oil.