Changing Packaging.

 A plastic circle?

Lidl is going great guns to embrace the new future of helping the planet one purchase at a time. As you know, they have upped their selection of plant-based food ( vegan ) although for some reason they have also priced it very high. Obviously the old fashioned vegan choices cost much less and the same as before we went vegan;

                   Broccoli, onions, rice, potatoes, oats, bananas, walnuts, peanuts,lettuce....

So this morning while at the Guessing branch of Lidl, I noticed a previously plastic packed bag of dry cat food now being offered in an attractive cardboard box. Nice, but is it?

Most of the programs on recycling are stressing one focal point. The more colourful a packaging, the less they can recycle it. Plastic containers should ideally be clear with minimal labeling. But we all know how competitive the big companies are and to be truthful, it is our own fault as we all like to shop for the most artistically branded product.

What I would like to know is whether buying products packaged in cardboard is more environmentally helpful or not? Remember, cardboard does stem from trees and all this packaging has to be grown in a forest somewhere. Or not?

If only we could be certain that there is only a finite amount of plastic ( for packaging ) in circulation and that it is constantly recycled to be reused for packaging, then shopping would be that much easier. Environmentally aware shopping.

Ideally we should buy goods without packaging or take our own containers along, but so far that sounds like utopia for most of the world. Perhaps in a decade or so most big supermarkets will have a section that is purely packaging free/ refill, but until then I will have to contend with my inner compass about whether I should buy a product packaged in plastic or cardboard....

P/S: Same with buying electric cars....is it better to drive our existing chariots until they fall to pieces before taxing the earth with more heavy metal extractions? Just a thought...

Biggi