The world's first plastic-free supermarket aisle has been opened in Amsterdam by Dutch organic retailer Ekoplaza and environmental campaign group A Plastic Planet.
The new Ekoplaza Lab pilot store opened on Jan Pieter Heijestraat in Amsterdam yesterday, offering a range of nearly 700 products that are free from plastic packaging, including meat, rice, sauces, dairy, confectionery, and fresh produce.
These products are packaged with more sustainable and recyclable solutions, such as compostable biomaterials or glass containers.
“For decades shoppers have been sold the lie that we can't live without #plastic in food and drink. The #PlasticFreeAisle at @ekoplaza dispels all that.” @siansutherland 28th February 2018 (the day #plasticpolluters had nowhere to hide) pic.twitter.com/dlyg5Y1fc1
— A Plastic Planet (@aplastic_planet) February 28, 2018
"The introduction of the world's first #PlasticFreeAisle represents a landmark moment for the global fight against #PlasticPollution” @siansutherland pic.twitter.com/mEuefmMu4I
— A Plastic Planet (@aplastic_planet) February 28, 2018
Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, says that this represents "a landmark moment for the global fight against plastic pollution", and hopes other supermarkets in the Netherlands and the UK will soon follow this example.
A second Ekoplaza plastic-free aisle is set to be opened in The Hague this summer, with plans to roll out the concept to 74 stores by the end of the year.
UK Plastic Push
This follows UK Prime Minister Theresa May's proposal to introduce plastic-free aisles in British supermarkets.
As part of her government's 25-year plan for reducing waste and tackling climate change, May pledged to eliminate all 'avoidable' plastic waste by 2042.
In response, frozen-food retailer Iceland announced that its private-label range will be plastic-free by 2023 and called on other retailers to follow suit.
“The onus is on retailers, as leading contributors to plastic-packaging pollution and waste, to take a stand and deliver meaningful change,” said managing director Richard Walker.
“Other supermarkets, and the retail industry as a whole, should follow suit and offer similar commitments during 2018. This is a time for collaboration.”
Last month, Asda vowed to reduce its plastic packaging by 10% this year, while working with suppliers to find more recyclable solutions.
Meanwhile, Andy Clarke, the former CEO of the supermarket giant, has backed campaign group A Plastic Planet, saying that a more radical approach is needed to resolve issues surrounding plastic pollution.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
