Lees dit artikel in het Nederlands:
Yesterday I went to the supermarket, armed with my cotton bags for fresh fruit and vegetables. But soon I got stuck in a dilemma … What appears to be the problem? The organically grown fruit and vegetables are all wrapped in plastic. The non-organically grown fruit and vegetables are not prepacked and can therefore be putt in my cotton bags. What kind of choice is this?
Either I buy fruit and vegetables that are not prepacked, so I can reduce my plastic waste at home. But these fruits and vegetables are most likely treated with chemicals that are anything but good for the environment and the workers who have to grow these fruits and vegetables. And not to mention the impact of these chemicals on my own health.
Or I choose the products that are organically grown, which makes me more relaxed about my own health, that of the workers involved and the many animals around the fields, but then I create more waste!
What a hopeless choice is this? What is worse? Chemicals or plastic waste?
When I submitted this issue to the supermarket, they told me that according to European legislation the organically grown fruit and vegetables are not supposed to come into contact with non-organically grown vegetables and fruit. Which isn’t such a crazy idea … How organic are your apples when they’ve lying skin to skin with sprayed apples? But that means that at least one of the two groups must be packed so they can not come into contact with each other. In order to use as little plastic as possible, they chose to pack the smallest of both groups. That appears to be the organically grown fruits and vegetables…
There I was standing with my cotton bags …
Fortunately I am not too often faced with this dilemma. Usually I get my fruits and vegetables directly from an organic farmer in the neighborhood. I have visited his fields and I have seen with how much love and conviction he grows beautiful fruit and vegetables. I also discover all kinds of vegetables I don’t even know!
In his farm there is no plastic around the vegetables and fruit. If you buy something from him, you should definitely bring your own cotton bags, baskets and shopping bags!
And now I hope the supermarkets quickly find an alternative to plastic packaging …