NGOs counter that many shops are already selling fresh produce without any plastic packaging, without unleashing a major health crisis. In any case, said Zero Waste Europe’s Larissa Copello, “We need to move towards more local and seasonal products, rather than just fruits and veggies that are wrapped in plastics and just for convenience that come from other country far away.”
Get ready to up your recycling game
Most EU countries will have to set up deposit return systems for single-use plastic bottles and metal drink cans, meaning that for each one you buy, you’ll pay a small deposit that will be repaid when you give it back to the shop. That’s to make sure they’re actually recycled and don’t end up as litter or in landfill.
Many EU members already have such schemes in place — including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia and Croatia. Ireland started implementing a new scheme last month, and Belgium is set to introduce a system for deposits on cans and plastic bottles from 2025. Some countries will be exempt from setting up these systems if they’re collecting a high enough percentage of bottles and cans already.
No more toxic food packaging
Not all the harmful chemicals that end up in your food are from pesticide use or contamination. Sometimes it is down to the packaging.
Scientists have shown that toxic chemicals known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” can transfer from a food’s packaging to its contents — posing a health threat to consumers. And it’s a widespread issue. Both McDonald’s and Burger King have been sued in recent years over PFAS in their packaging, for example, spurring them to pledge to remove it.
Now the EU will ban the chemicals in food packaging above certain threshold by 2026, in a win for environmental and consumer groups.