When I bought groceries today, I suddenly realized that there is more plastic than food in the store. Though I am not optimistic about influencing BigGrocers, there's always hope. So, I have sent the following letter to Safeway. It will be interesting to see if they respond.
Ever since moving to California in 1980 I have been an
enthusiastic Safeway customer. You have consistently provided nourishing, tasty
foods at affordable prices, as well as toiletries, detergents, and other
household items. During the past few years you have also added organic foods
that are good for customers and for the planet. Thank you!
In walking through my local store today, however, I was
suddenly struck by an overwhelming amount of plastic everywhere. In the produce
section, individual portions of salads and other vegetables are displayed in
plastic containers. Unwrapped produce is accompanied by plastic bags also; they
could be replaced by paper bags. (I bring my own mesh bags that I bought at a
natural foods store. Why don’t you sell these bags to encourage people to use
them?)
Moving on to other parts of the store, I saw still more
unnecessary plastic. In most cases, it was easy to think of good alternatives. Plastic
bottles of vinegar, oil, and so on should be sold in glass bottles, which are
easily recycled. Small portions of foods are attractive, but they multiply the
amount of plastic used.
Cartons of many foods are made of plastic rather than
cardboard. Foam containers used in the deli could be replaced with lightweight cardboard
cartons like those traditionally used for Chinese carryout. Meats are sold in plastic
packages instead of being wrapped in paper and tied with string. Instead of
selling water in plastic bottles, you could sell water from a large dispenser
that people would use to refill their own bottles. Wax paper can substitute for
plastic in some cases.
Please don’t write me off as a crazy environmentalist. Most
people today want to protect marine mammals and protect the environment in
other ways, but we are busy. Shopping around for the best choices is
time-consuming, and too often we just buy whatever is easily available. If you
can use less plastic in your offerings, customers will buy them effortlessly and will
appreciate your contribution to a better environment. Please consider my suggestions.
Thank you.
