Sarah Beeny shares tips to combat supermarket plastic waste

last updated 10 June 2022

Property expert Sarah Beeny is always a great source for all things home-related. Turns out that even includes how to reduce our household plastic waste. She has recently taken to Twitter to share her ideas on how we can try to combat supermarket plastic waste.

Who else gets irritated with the amount of plastic waste produced from the weekly food shop? You get home, unpack all the produce, only to find a mountain of plastic packaging that instantly ends up in the recycling.

Sarah Beeny is on board with cutting out the waste at the source, as she unpacks the produce while in store. Leaving the plastic recycling in the hands of the culprits.

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In response to @GTTURBO's tweet suggesting we all unwrap and decant our shopping from its plastic packaging at the check out – leaving it for customer services, Sarah admits to doing just that.

Unperturbed by the 'odd funny look', Sarah removes items from the plastic packaging, saying she hands it all back. The unnamed supermarket takes it back and disposes of it directly.

Love it!!! I do the same - you get the odd funny look at the checkout which is where I hand it all back but they take it and you get home with less rubbish for your bin - you are right the supermarkets would step up if everyone did it! https://t.co/tysbsg0eyMOctober 13, 2019

We use enough #clingfilm in the uk a year to wrap around the world 30 times - #MakeADifference just stop it’s easier than you’d thinkOctober 13, 2019

Sarah's tweet claims here in the UK we use enough clingfilm to 'wrap around the world 30 times'. That's a shocking amount of unnecessary plastic wrap that is easily avoidable.

True but ideally we’d also #slimyourbin so there is a balance to be considered to use something that doesn’t end up in a bin if at all possible https://t.co/9stxsLfMqaOctober 13, 2019

One user suggests the more eco-friendly alternative of resuable Beeswax wraps.

Love that idea!! Think it might not be possible though!!!! I agree we need to make changes ourselves rather than or rather whilst waiting for world leaders and ceos of multinational companies to buck up!!! https://t.co/ZdZMv0yGdGOctober 13, 2019

A fellow tweeter, thinking outside the box, suggests someone should invent edible clingfilm. An idea shut down by Sarah who says,' Think it might not be possible'.

Yes there are brilliant sandwich Tupperwares you can buy - it’s still plastic but at least it will last for decades and they’ll stay fresh in the bottom of any bag https://t.co/fxtRdZHyWXOctober 13, 2019

For a more practical solution, Sarah suggest the classic Tupperware. Which may still be plastic, but at least it's reusable – and therefore helping the plight against plastic waste.

Will you be helping to wage a war on supermarket plastics? If we all do our bit the big chains surely have to take action?

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.