Removing Packaging Labels to Cut Waste
Packaging labels are designed to inform consumers, however, sometimes we are better off without them. As leading supermarkets take action to remove Best Before dates from product packaging, what are the environmental and financial benefits?
Action to Reduce Food Waste
This month, over 100 of Sainsbury’s product ranges will no longer include a Best Before date. They are not the first to reduce the information available to consumers. Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose, Co-op and Aldi have all taken action. The aim is to reduce food waste.
Until now, many products had a Use By or Best Before date, but many people get confused, so what’s the difference?
Use By indicates that the product may no longer be safe to consume after the date.
Best Before is a guide, the product may not be quite as fresh, but it is still safe to eat.
All too often, Best Before goods are binned when the date has passed. This is an unnecessary waste with environmental and financial costs.
By removing this information from the packaging labels, the supermarkets hope that shoppers can cut waste. We need to get in the habit of making judgements based on the look, feel and taste of the product.
How to Store Food so it Stays Fresher for Longer
Another way to keep food fresh and reduce waste is by storing it correctly. WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign includes informative instructions for food storage:
