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Comment by svendbt | Hacker News Reader

The news response from supermarket chains where I live is that individually packaged fruit and vegetables helps reduce supply chain food waste.

Makes sense (e.g. one squashed tomato during transport will only waste one package) - no idea if it is true though.

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Why wrap fruits and vegetables at all? They come to the store in boxes that ensure they aren't damaged in transport, I don't see the need for another layer of packaging. The only vegetable I buy in a package is lettuce, which would probably dry out pretty quickly if it wasn't in something.

It might reduce food waste, but it creates plastic waste. I would rather have the former than the latter. Food waste composts, plastic waste does not.

Then put them in paper cradles, like we do with eggs.

Consumers wont buy it if plastic wrapped options are allowed. Clear plastic allows transparency into the object that is being purchased while at the same protecting from external contamination. For example a clear plastic egg carton allows you to see if any eggs are broken without risking getting egg goo on you.

So do paper, just open it. Works fine in Europe.

You can look on the underside of the egg carton to see if any of them are wet from broken egg leaking into it, or open the carton and gently lift each egg to see if they stick.

But I do agree that humans are pretty likely to take the easy choice here, which is why we need to take those choices away so we can more easily make the better choices.

I'm surprised that plastic egg boxes are still legal.

https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/131223/egg_bo...

It goes straight to landfill/fire and is more fragile than the paper pulp/cardboard counterpart :/

I suspect it just moves the waste, and perhaps more, to the home.

If you now have to buy a kilo bag, instead of the few you think you'll need for the next week or two, you'll probably be throwing some deteriorated produce along with the plastic bags.

For onions and spuds plastic is a poor choice anyway as they should be able to breathe. Better still, unwashed, as with carrots. Why, oh why, do supermarkets insist on washing off natural protection?

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