The Packaging
The problem – Fruit and vegetables are often wrapped in unnecessary plastic packaging, a lot of which is not even recyclable.
Solutions:
1. Try and buy items which aren’t wrapped in plastic.
2. Grow your own – a lot of things like herbs, beans and courgettes are actually really easy to grow, so if you have in your garden or on your windowsill, give it a go!
3. Try and buy locally at a greengrocers or farmers’ market where there is often far less packaging.
Where the food is from
The problem – A lot of food is transported hundreds or thousands of miles, with the huge CO2 emissions which go alongside that.
Solutions:
1. When you’re looking at fruit & vegetables, buy items that say they have been grown in the UK, or even better in the county you live in, as these will have considerably less food miles, than produce from other countries.
2. Buy from local farmers’ markets or farm shops. These will have very local produce, which has often been harvested much more recently and therefore much fresher.
3. Grow your own – then you know that the food is pesticide free and has no food miles.
sustainellie 