08/05/2024
In 2022, I was living in France when the French Government introduced a ban on the sale of fruit and vegetables under 1.5kg in plastic packaging. Initially, I found it challenging to adapt to a new way of shopping and was frequently irritated by what I felt was an inconvenience. To my surprise, French shoppers seem to adapt seamlessly and without fuss. Having an academic background in psychology, I put this down to entrenched social habits. Purchasing loose fruit and vegetables in markets is a well-rehearsed social norm in France, and they have specific bags & rituals for doing it.
When I returned to the UK, fruit and vegetable packaging was on my radar. I developed a greater understanding of the life cycle of packaging materials, the reality, and the limitations of recycling in the UK. Inevitably this changed my thinking and behaviours. I realised that most fruit and vegetable packaging is not recyclable at home and ends its life in a UK landfill, or more probably, a landfill in a developing country such as India, Turkey, or Malaysia. I found myself looking at lemons, oranges, limes, and garlic protected by nature and yet trussed in plastic netting and asking why this is necessary.
This inspired me to collaborate with expert designers and makers to conceive the Bag for Loose. To bring convenience to purchasing unpackaged fruit, vegetables, and loose bakery produce and awareness of how this small behaviour change can make a significant impact on climate change and environmental pollution.
