Traditional supermarkets are not doing enough to protect the environment, it’s time for a change.
Humans have a plastic problem. Since 1950, over 9 billion tons of plastic have been produced (Earthday.org). The chemical process that binds polyethylene together is irreversible which means that every piece of plastic ever created still remains on Earth today. The convenience and affordability of single-use plastics have forged a dependency on plastics that both consumers and producers have fallen prey to. We have become so accustomed to using plastic in our everyday life that it is difficult to picture other alternatives.
I, like most Americans, have become enamored with the popular grocery store Trader Joes. The chain’s appeal comes from its tasty frozen meals, inexpensive produce, unique snacks, and vegan/ gluten alternatives. When one enters the store, they are first met with colorful arrays of vegetables and fruits aesthetically displayed in rustic wooden crates. Bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, tomatoes, jalapenos and kiwis sit preserved in shiny plastic bags. Two weeks ago, I went to Trader Joes to take an intake on how much plastic packaging the chain produces. As I browsed the refrigerated section, I noticed a section of pre-chopped carrots, onions, and celery in plastic containers. My heart sank as I realized that people buy these products because they truly are the epitome of convenience. I wondered, why are we willing to use single-use plastic so excessively in order to avoid chopping up a vegetable? My goal is to explain the ways in which the plastic impact of large grocery stores is harmful to our environment and our health. I will provide solutions in the form of lifestyle changes and shed light on zero-waste stores and local produce farms.
Even with their unbridled success, Trader Joes has been scrutinized by customers for a lack of transparency concerning their ecological impact. The company has claimed to have “scaled back” plastic use in light of consumer protests. Yet, they still pollute millions of pounds of plastic per year. Trader Joes is a major participant in excessive plastic use compared to other grocery stores in the produce section but when it comes to grains, snacks, ect, every major grocery store plays a destructive role. In 2014, 248 million tons of waste was sent to landfills, over 63% was packaging material for food and other goods (environment.co). Currently, single-use plastic packaging in supermarkets ranks as the largest contributor to plastic waste. (epa.gov).
Scientists believe that plastic production will account for 56 gigatons of CO2 emissions between now and 2050 (environment.co). Single-use plastics have been important for sanitation purposes especially during COVID-19 and have increased the shelf life of items. However, there is a disproportionate environmental cost that I think outweighs the benefits. One pound of plastic creates three pounds of carbon dioxide during manufacturing (environment.co). CO2 is a greenhouse gas which means it gets trapped by the atmosphere and heats the Earth. This has led to ocean acidification, extinctions, extreme weather and glacier melting. Scientists agree that in order for us to avoid disastrous and irreversible climate change, CO2 levels must not exceed 1.5 degrees celsius over pre-industrial levels. At the current trajectory of CO2 emissions, we are not on track to meet this goal and will surpass these levels by 2050.
It is clear that we need to reduce plastic consumption. Large corporate brands are not being held accountable for their massive CO2 footprints, grocery stores in particular have not made the changes necessary to keep emissions down. One reason is because the brands they have partnerships with use plastic packaging. Another is that our consumer habits demand plastic. According to expert in energy and environment Rachel A Meidl, “The widespread use of plastics is driven by our desire for convenient, portable, lightweight products…that results in low quality mixed polymers that are impossible to recycle within our current systems.” With all the plastic that customers encounter at supermarkets, it’s difficult to avoid. Once we buy these products and use what’s inside, most of us will never have to see that piece of plastic again.
Luckily, consciousness about the impact plastics have on the environment has grown rapidly among consumers in the past decade. An uprising industry of zero-waste grocery stores is spreading across the globe. In Boulder Colorado, a zero waste grocery store called Nude Foods has opened up. This is an entirely bulk food based store and has a jar system in which customers can purchase jars and then return them when they come back to the store.
Zero waste grocery stores have been critiqued because glass products are more energy intensive to create than plastic. Transportation costs are also higher in CO2 emissions because glass is a heavier substance. One claim to back this up is “Glass and metal products are, however, heavy and emissions-intensive to make and transport – so again, you need to re-use them many, many times to really gain the environmental benefit.” But this is exactly the point of going plastic free. Bringing your own containers to grocery stores that sell in bulk means that you are not disposing of plastic every time you go grocery shopping. In addition, even when reusables get too worn down or broken, they are still easier to recycle than plastic is. Consumers can also save money because they are not paying for the manufacturing cost of plastic. Customizable container sizes also help customers start taking portions that they will use. This will cut down on food waste. We must take on more of a reuse mindset because right now we are so used to waste. There are already more than enough glass jars that have been produced. People just need to see more of them besides containers that hold their tomato sauce.
Reusable grocery stores need our support. We have potential to make them the norm but we must start supporting zero waste first. Plastic degrades the environment entirely and it is bad for our health.
