Spain Has Introduced Complete Ban on Packing Fruit and Vegetables in Plastic. It’s Time the Rest of the World Joined Them.

Spanish government has passed a law that forbids selling fruit and vegetables in plastic packaging. This is to promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Plastic will have disappeared from fruit and vegetables sold in Spanish supermarkets by 2023. Although this is much more common in Asian countries, there are also places in Europe where natural products are wrapped in such a ridiculous way. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Ecological Transformation admits in an interview for 'El Pais' that the main objective is to eliminate the extensive use of plastic packaging.

This is definitely a right move. Packing fruit and vegetables in plastic is completely useless and it largely contributes to global pollution.

There will be some exceptions. Of course every law assumes some exceptions. The ban will not affect fruit and vegetables packed in portions larger than 1.5 kilos. Moreover, if a given product is likely to go off or get smashed, plastic packaging will also be allowed.

The law will become effective next year. Spain has reached all the limits of plastic pollution as the government decided to crack down on it. They declare that by 2030 all packaging in Spain will be 100% recyclable.

Green activists in Spain and other countries, including Greenpeace, have been long campaigning to prevent stores and supermarkets from packing fresh fruit and vegetables in plastic.

'We drink plastic, eat plastic and breathe plastic', says Julio Barea, a member of Greenpeace.

Spanish government is also taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic used to sell water. There are plans to create a network of public drinking fountains and reduce selling and distribution of disposable plastic cups at public events.

Would you like similar actions to be taken in your country? Or do you think it's a bit exaggerated? Why don't you share your thoughts in a comment?