In a vast survey, the CLCV listed the packaging of more than 250 food products and criticized the excessive presence of plastic in relation to the quantity of food.
The alarm bell is ringing. While the anti-waste law, passed in 2020, sets targets for reducing packaging – and in particular to limit the presence of plastic – around food products, the consumer association CLCV (consumption, housing, living environment) has undertaken a vast survey of 252 products in nine brands between February and mid-May 2022. First lesson, some packaging is too large compared to the quantity of food. In other words, these packages contain too much empty space. Certain cereals, seeds, dried fruits, several biscuits, acras or even several brands of sausages are targeted by this study. Several packets of bacon, granola or even almonds would contain up to 55% vacuum. The CLCV even demonstrates its data by images of the empty space of food products.
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In addition, many products would be surrounded by packaging “useless“, according to the CLCV: “Plastic film around cans of tea, chocolates or vegetables, cardboard sleeve around yogurts, compotes or pizzas“. Daunat or Sodebo salads, Super U pizzas, compotes, or certain teas are thus pointed out for too large a container. Just like certain cheeses or certain batches of cans “overpacked». «Since 1is January 2022, a wide selection of fruit and vegetables must be sold without plastic packaging or labels in stores. (…). However, in April 2022, packaged fruits and vegetables are still very numerous on the shelves.details the investigation. These are, for example, peppers, carrots, vegetables for pot-au-feu, Chinese cabbage, pomelo, sweet potatoes or zucchini.
«Reinforce sorting systems»
Even if alternatives are welcomed such as packaging in cardboard trays or paper bags. The consumer association also makes some recommendations: “It is possible for the consumer to adopt good practices: favor products without over-packaging, avoid portioned packaging, think about bulk and reuse packaging when possible.” The CLCV also indicates that certain plastics cannot be recycled. While asking “the public authorities to strengthen sorting systems in public places to capture nomadic packaging and to set up educational actions for consumers to improve collection.”