Over half of UK food and drink products wrapped in unnecessary plastic

The Material Change Index from sustainable packaging company DS Smith has revealed that 51 per cent of food and drink products in UK supermarkets are wrapped in unnecessary plastic, contributing to 29.8 billion avoidable pieces of plastic packaging annually.

The study, conducted with Retail Economics, assessed 1,500 grocery items across five top European food retailers in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the UK. It found that the UK is the most reliant on plastic packaging, with 70 per cent of all food and drink products containing plastic, compared to 67 per cent in Spain, 66 per cent in Italy and Germany, 62 per cent in Poland, and 59 per cent in France.

The analysis looked at two scenarios to create an overall plastic packaging index: the proportion of commonly purchased items in a typical grocery shopping basket that contain plastic packaging and packaging in the overall inventory in each store.

Processed foods emerged as the primary source of plastic waste, with 90 per cent of ready-meals and meal kits, 89 per cent of bread, rice and cereals, 83 per cent of dairy products, and 80 per cent of meat and fish being packaged in plastic.

DS Smith estimates that 84 per cent of unnecessary plastic used in the UK could be replaced or significantly reduced by fibre-based alternatives.

Mike Roberts, Group Chief Executive of DS Smith, commented: “With some of the biggest brands in the world we estimate that we have been able to replace more than 1 billion pieces of plastic over the last four years, but it is the tip of the iceberg and we must do more.”

Barriers to change

Despite widespread commitments to reducing plastic packaging, manufacturers and retailers are failing to meet their targets. The study identifies several barriers holding back progress, including concerns over costs, potential negative consumer reactions, and fears of losing competitiveness.

Nearly three-quarters of manufacturers believed that shoppers would be unwilling to pay extra for sustainable packaging, while 65 per cent worried that consumers would resist sacrificing convenience for sustainability.

In response to the new research, DS Smith is urging the UK government to take more assertive action in phasing out unnecessary plastic and supporting businesses in their transition to sustainable alternatives.

Roberts explained the need for regulatory support: “Good progress has been made but there is evidently a great deal more to do. We think Government can and should be more demanding of us all - phasing out certain plastics to help create a level playing field that encourages innovation, investment, and generates healthy competition to replace plastic.

“The opportunity to meet consumer demand for more sustainable packaging is significant and we hope the Government’s forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy will find ways to support the use of materials that are more readily recyclable.”

The introduction of government measures such as Extended Producer for Packaging (pEPR) aims to shift the cost burden of plastic waste management from taxpayers to producers, encouraging the reduction of plastic packaging. The majority of Britons also hope to see a clear plan for a Deposit Return Scheme that would also increase the amount of plastic recycling.