Calls for a ban on plastic packaging for fruit and vegetable purchases under 1.5 kg in Wales have raised debate within the Senedd. Independent member Rhys ab Owen has urged the Welsh government to prohibit the use of plastic packaging for small fresh produce, arguing that it is unnecessary and environmentally harmful.
"Plastic packaging, very often, is entirely wasteful, unnecessary, and purposeless," Owen said. He noted that greengrocers, markets, and local shops already provide unwrapped produce and suggested that consumers return to traditional shopping habits. "That's how fruits and vegetables have been bought across the centuries. That's how our grandparents shopped. It's how we and our children should shop," he added.
Deputy First Minister and Climate Change and Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies questioned the practicality of such a measure, warning it could increase food waste and household costs. He referred to earlier findings by waste charity Wrap, which recommended gradual reductions in plastic use rather than an outright ban.
"They asked whether a 1.5kg rule could inadvertently encourage consumers to purchase larger packs, potentially having the opposite effect of increasing food waste, increasing consumption that is not needed, increasing purchase that is not needed, and increasing food waste and household costs as well, while we have cost-of-living issues?" Irranca-Davies explained.
He added that while he supports local shopping options, public expectations in larger retail environments must also be considered. "I'm used to going to a local grocer – a local fruit and veg supplier; loose vegetables put into a paper bag, and so on," he said. "However, understanding wider public perceptions, particularly in modern retail environments, is an important consideration that we need to think about."
Ab Owen, who was suspended from Plaid Cymru for inappropriate behaviour, said Wales needed to take a more proactive approach. "I think we need bolder governance here in Wales, where people are willing to make decisions," he said. "Sometimes, we just need to get on and do it."
The Welsh government continues to review plastic packaging use and its environmental impacts, while balancing waste reduction efforts with affordability and supply chain practicality for both retailers and consumers.
Source: Hort News
