Have we been blinded by the success of the plastic bag ban?

Wednesday, 9 January 2019

OPINION: 2018 - the year when plastic became public enemy number one.

It felt like wherever we looked we were greeted with videos and images highlighting the destructive impact of our lust for all things plastic and the damage it was doing to the environment. We were shown images of our picturesque oceans being overrun with floating plastic objects and marine life who had ingested vast quantities of plastic.

Naturally, as you would expect, much of the discussion soon started to focus on our shopping habits and, in particular, our weekly (or more frequent) visit to the supermarket. For many of us, the supermarket shop is the largest source of single-use plastic.

But then something interesting happened. The focus of the debate seemed to narrow to just one solitary item: the simple, inconspicuous, unassuming plastic bag. The conversation about our broader supermarket plastic habits was quickly forgotten and overlooked.

**READ MORE:

* Single-use plastic bags no longer in New Zealand supermarkets

* Single-use bags have been hit, but many other plastic targets remain

* Having a go at life without plastic bags

* Countdown customers embrace life less plastic

* Countdown customers say other supermarkets need to get on board**

Why was it just a war on plastic bags?

We were inundated with news articles, social media posts, TV commercials and more to ban the plastic bag. One supermarket chain even launched a campaign to give us the opportunity to vote on the plastic bag issue. It really felt like the supermarkets were stepping up to do their part for the environment.

Success! Fast-forward to 2019 and we are now reading about the triumphed success from all the major supermarket chains. In their relentless pursuit for the environment they have successfully removed all single-use plastic bags from their stores. Supermarket chains across the country are ushering in this new era of change “6 months ahead of schedule” and warning us that “customers should be ready”.

But here’s the thing, as I make my way around the supermarket during my weekly shop, it feels like very little has changed. I still have to put my produce in plastic bags (or let them roll around in the shopping cart), meat still comes shrink-wrapped in plastic, and the deli still serves coleslaw in a small plastic tub. Environmentally-conscious brands are still selling products in plastic containers, and chocolates continue to be individually wrapped in plastic and then placed in a box which is further wrapped in plastic.

So let’s digest the cumulative impact of what has happened: supermarkets no longer manufacture truckloads of free plastic bags, and when we do require a plastic bag it costs us 15 to 20 cents.

The environment has had a small victory but let’s also acknowledge the other winner: our supermarkets! Make no mistake, supermarkets have made money out of this initiative. They have successfully controlled the narrative by only talking about plastic bags and avoided the broader conversation on the vast quantities of other plastic they sell us every week. In touting their commitment to the environment they’ve turned this into a profitable exercise.

I can’t help but feel we have been misled, duped, and greenwashed!

When will supermarkets actually start getting serious about plastic reduction? When will we be given plastic-alternative options across every aisle? When will the greenwashing stop and our supermarkets start investing in environmental initiatives rather than just promoting their green credentials?

Sadly, the duopoly environment of our supermarkets and the necessity for food makes it difficult for the consumer to fight back. We could launch another social media campaign – but big business know these are short-lived and have little or no impact on long-term behaviour.

Are we stuck hoping the supermarkets will do the right thing? Or is there other action we, as the consumer, could take that might promote more meaningful and impactful change across the supermarket?

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