Plastic-free aisle in supermarkets urged to cut polluting food packaging
An environment group warns over the potential dangers of chemicals seeping into food that may cause health problems.
Sunday 14 May 2017 11:57, UK
Food safety experts have written an open letter to supermarkets calling on them to introduce a plastic-free aisle in their stores.
The campaign, launched by environment group A Plastic Planet, has the backing of doctors, scientists and a host of celebrities to highlight the potential dangers of chemicals from plastic leaking into food.
The group's organiser Sian Sutherland, told Sky News: "The one thing we can't do now is push our trolleys to get our meat, our fruit and fish in a plastic-free aisle.
"There is increasing scientific evidence to say there could be seepage from plastic into our food.
"We want to work with supermarkets to prove that consumers will want to shop in a plastic-free aisle.
"So many people complain to me about how they are filling their bins with plastic packaging when they get their food home from the supermarket.
"There is a sea of plastic, most of which will be used just one time and then will be on our planet forever.
"Supermarkets want to give us choice and now we want the choice between buying our food in plastic or not. We need a bold move and we can vote with our wallets."
Every day eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped into oceans and it is estimated by 2050 there will be more plastic by weight in the sea than fish.
Some scientists believe plastics are having an impact on people's health as they become exposed to chemicals such as phthalate and BPA - an industrial chemical used to make plastics - which may cause cancer, metabolic and cognitive behaviour disorders.
A Plastic Planet is calling for people to video themselves on their phone saying, "I am a plastic addict but I am ready for change. I want a plastic-free aisle", and post it on their website
Sky News launched its Sky Ocean Rescue campaign earlier this year aimed at reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the world's seas.
:: You can find out more about the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign and how to get involved at