Nearly half of fresh fruits and vegetables are presented in plastic packaging at the grocery store, a proportion that could be reduced without much effort, estimates a federal report. But the results could be delayed.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
Half of fruits and vegetables are packaged in plastic, really?
This is the conclusion of a report prepared by the firm Value Chain Management International (VCMI) for Environment and Climate Change Canada. The document obtained by The Press thanks to the Access to Information Act reports that approximately 48% of fresh fruits and vegetables sold in grocery stores come in plastic packaging. The report dated April 18 analyzed 40 fruits and vegetables sold at the grocery store, which represent 95% of sales in this food category.
Which fruits and vegetables are packaged with plastic?
Unsurprisingly, grapes (100%), berries (99%), lettuce (80%) and mushrooms (94%) are among the products most often packaged with plastic, the report notes. But we also find oranges (58%), avocados (65%), celery (47%) and garlic (58%) in this list.
Why do we package these products with plastic?
The answer varies depending on the type of fruit or vegetable in question, it is reported. Packaging can be used to protect a product during its transport to the point of sale or to avoid contamination by different pathogens. Foods like grapes, for example, are more likely to be damaged during transport than cabbage or lemons. According to Sylvain Charlebois, professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and specialist in agri-food issues, some producers also tend to package their products to better protect them, so as not to lose income.
Why be interested in this issue now?
The VCMI report does not address the issue, but plastic pollution has become a major issue around the world. Governments are looking for different ways to reduce this pollution, especially since the packaging used for certain products such as fruits and vegetables is single-use. “The science is clear: plastic pollution is omnipresent; it harms wild species and damages their habitats,” says Environment and Climate Change Canada in an email sent to The Press. For Sylvain Charlebois, it was time for this issue to be addressed more seriously by the authorities. “Plastic bags [utilisés par les consommateurs]it was almost secondary. The real problem is the packaging,” he emphasizes.
What are the solutions proposed?
The report suggests two scenarios for reducing the use of plastic packaging. The first, “more conservative”, would reduce the proportion of fruits and vegetables packaged with plastic from 48% to 36% within three to five years. The second would reduce this proportion from 48% to 25% within 5 to 10 years. In both cases, these changes would not harm the safety or quality of the products concerned, estimates the VCMI firm.
How would we achieve these targets?
The report classifies different fruits and vegetables according to their “robustness” and “degree of perishability” into four categories (see table). Pineapples, lemons, melons, beets and celery are thus found in category 1, while berries belong to category 4. Products appearing in categories 1 and 2 are those which are most likely to be able to do without plastic packaging, notes VCMI.
Is this a realistic solution?
“Everything is realistic in this report,” says Sylvain Charlebois. These are entirely reasonable targets. […] We're talking about pineapples and melons, which are packaged when it's not necessary. Same thing with vegetables: onions, celery, all hard products. Cabbage, for example, doesn't need to be wrapped. » According to the expert, there is also a certain culture to change in relation to plastic packaging. “Regulation could play an important role because the rules would be the same for everyone. If everyone has to manage the same regulations, adhere to the same standards, it will be easier for producers. »
Is this regulation coming soon?
Since the Federal Court invalidated an Ottawa decree indicating that plastic items could be toxic, Environment Canada is moving cautiously on this issue. The court's decision followed a legal challenge brought by plastic companies, supported by Alberta and Saskatchewan. “The Department continues to work alongside provinces and territories, partners and stakeholders in priority areas to prevent plastic waste and pollution and foster a circular economy,” Environment Canada said in an email sent to The Press.
With the collaboration of William Leclerc, The Press
