Easy & Tasty
Eco-nutrition Challenge!
Visit your local recycling centre today and you’ll be surprised by just how much you can actually recycle.
Then, challenge yourself to try to recycle two different things today, such as old clothes and books. If you already recycle, why not help an elderly neighbour to recycle. They may not realise what an impact it is having on the planet and they might not even know how to separate the different materials.
Why?
Pack it in
While food packaging is necessary to protect your products and ensure they arrive in your fridge or your cupboard in the optimum condition, there is a tendency for certain items to be over-packaged. And unless consumers make the effort to recycle that extra packaging, we are on a downward spiral to landfill disaster.
Why package food at all?
The main purposes of food packaging are to preserve the product, to protect the product from damage, to make the product more attractive to consumers and to make it easier to transport. The packaging usually also enables us to see clearly what is inside the pack, including its nutritional content, date labelling and details of where or how it was produced. But it is true that many firms have been and remain guilty of over-packaging their food and there are lots of organisations now committed to minimising this.
Material world
Many food manufacturers are now switching the materials they use for their packaging to more sustainable, environment-friendly options that are easily recycled or are formed from recycled materials themselves. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also works out more cost-effective for the companies involved as well. It means far less waste sent to landfill sites.
Reduction rules
Reduction is even better than recycling. Many food companies are making significant efforts to not only introduce recyclable materials into their packaging portfolio, but also to reduce the amount and weight of packaging they use overall. And that’s good news for you, as it means less time trying to figure out what bit of rubbish goes into what recycling bin.
Bag for life
Even we consumers tend to over-pack our food when we are at the supermarket, as we use numerous plastic bags to take our goods home – and often those plastic bags end up in the bin. Many European supermarkets have introduced a bag for life scheme that sees consumers purchase a more sturdy bag that they can re-use again and again – and the supermarket pledges to replace that bag at no extra cost when it finally becomes unusable.
Healthy you, Healthy Planet Facts
- Every European citizen on average throws away 520 kg of household waste per year (European Environment Agency).
- Every European citizen produces 164kg of packaging waste every year(European Environment Agency).
- In Western Europe, 60 % of packaging waste is recycled (European Environment Agency).
Healthy you, Healthy Planet Tips
- Check if the packaging of all the food you eat today is recyclable and if so, recycle it in the appropriate container. Look out for and try to purchase products in biodegradable packaging.
- Take your own bags to the supermarket or buy a ‘bag for life’ when you go shopping today - don’t throw away any plastic bags you do end up using.
- Try to avoid buying pre-packed produce, where possible. There are normally loose alternatives available for most fruit and vegetables.
- Call your local council/authority to find out about recycling facilities in your area and plan what changes you can implement in your recycling regime.
- Tread on cans, collapse cardboard boxes and squash plastic bottles to double the room in your recycling box - that way, you will fit a lot more in.