Greenpeace survey finds major Hong Kong supermarkets inconsistent in use of plastic wrapping for produce
- Supermarket chain uses different amounts of plastic wrapping for same product in various store locations, Greenpeace campaigner says
- International environmental watchdog sends letters to stores requesting transparency in plastic use quantity
Hong Kong’s supermarkets are inconsistent in their use of plastic wrapping for produce across their stores and even add extra layers to existing packaging from suppliers, environmental watchdog Greenpeace has found.
The findings were made after Greenpeace ran a survey in April which revealed 70 per cent consumers preferred shopping in plastic-free supermarkets.
In June, the green group followed up with a survey on the use of plastic wrap for fresh produce and cooked foods at 56 supermarket outlets – including Wellcome, ParknShop, Fusion, U Select, Market Place by Jasons, Vanguard, International, Taste, Aeon, Yata, Marks & Spencer and City’super.
Greenpeace gathered 125 volunteers to count how many layers of plastic were used to wrap fruits, pre-cut fruits, vegetables, bread and cooked food sold in supermarkets.
At least half of more than 12,100 products analysed had packaging added in store, said Chan Hall-sion, a Greenpeace campaigner, at a press conference on Wednesday.
