A MASSIVE bag change is set to be introduced to the way you shop for fruit and veg as supermarkets face a ban on plastic packaging.
Brits will be hit by a drastic change in shopping as part of a national crackdown on food waste.
AlamyBrits will have to pick their own produce in supermarkets[/caption]
Pre-packed fruit and veg is set to come to an end as customers will be pushed to pick up their own food in supermarkets.
Brits are returning to traditional shopping methods in a bid to cut down on food waste and stop Brits from splashing on unnecessary items.
Although many supermarkets are already selling fresh items in recyclable bags, the new ban will make it compulsory for everyone.
Food waste amounted to 12 stone per person only in 2021, according to research.
Anti-waste charity Wrap behind the crackdown said some delicate foods could still be sold in plastic – including soft fruit.
Wrap director Catherine David said: “We waste 12 per cent of the food that we buy, with an average household of four throwing away £1,000 of good food each year.
“This is happening because our food system is making it hard for people to buy only what they need and to use more of what they buy.”
Official figures revealed that only 19 per cent of fruit and vegetables are being sold loose.
But Wrap said voluntary efforts by giant supermarkets have been too slow to hit its target.
They aim to reach a 30 per cent of fruit and veg being sold without packaging by next year.
As much as 80 per cent of packaging could be removed within three years, according to reports.
The government hopes the ban on packed veg and fruit will eventually reduce plastic waste.
Thousands of tons of plastic packaging are estimated to end up in landfill or being burnt every year.
MP Sir Robert Goodwill said: “I welcome any attempts to reduce plastic packaging of supermarket food and allow more people to buy fruit and veg loose.”
However, many fear grocers could be hit hard by the ban as they face soaring prices .
A British Retail Consortium spokesman said: “With grocers already facing very significant cost increases across the supply chain, it’s important any further regulatory burdens are proportionate.”
It comes as shoppers faced even higher food costs, thanks to government packaging waste plans, according to an industry body.
The updated rules from the government will regulate so-called extended producer responsibility (EPR) to tackle the growing problem of packaging waste.
These regulations aim to shift the waste and recycling costs of packaging from local authorities to the businesses that produce it.