Morrisons has ditched the shrink wrapping on cucumbers in an effort to reduce the use of plastic packaging.
The move is a controversial one with the likes of Lee Stiles of Lea Valley Growers previously telling FPJ that the plastic sleeves help to boost shelf life by preventing physical damage and dehydration.
Morrisons conceded that the change would reduce the cucumbers’ shelf life from seven days to five, but the retailer stressed that 16 million fewer plastic sleeves would be used each year.
No shrink wrapping will be used on standard-sized cucumbers from the UK or the Netherlands between March and October, however cucumbers sourced from Spain, the Canary Islands and Greece in the counter season will continue to be wrapped in plastic to ensure freshness.
Sian Sutherland, co-founder of environmental campaign group A Plastic Planet, told The Sun: 'We applaud Morrisons for taking the initiative in reducing their plastic packaging and blazing a trail for other supermarkets to follow, but why stop there?
'It is estimated that this move will save around 16 million plastic sleeves being used every year, but imagine the impact if this was rolled out across other products.'
The Times reported that Tesco, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Lidl and Aldi all said they were keeping the shrink-wrapping on cucumbers because it extends shelf life and cuts waste.
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