Dutch supermarket creates world’s first ‘plastic-free’ aisle

A Dutch supermarket has become the world’s first to introduce a plastic-free aisle.

Ekoplaza, an organic food market chain based in Amsterdam, today opened what calls an “Ekoplaza Lab”, working in collaboration with a British campaign group A Plastic Planet, which says this is a landmark moment in the fight against plastic pollution.

Instead of plastic light fittings, there are lampshades reclaimed from other stores, metal-and-wood shelves and cardboard labels, The Daily Telegraph reports. “But most importantly, all 700 products from fresh meat to lentils in this 60sqm corner space are wrapped in compostable biomaterials.”

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Earlier this year, a Guardian investigation showed that supermarkets in the UK were a “major source of plastic waste”, producing a million tons of it each year.

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, wants British retailers to copy the example shown by their Dutch counterparts, ITV News reports.

“For decades shoppers have been sold the lie that we can’t live without plastic in food and drink,” she said. “A plastic-free aisle dispels all that. Finally we can see a future where the public have a choice about whether to buy plastic or plastic-free. Right now we have no choice.”

Theresa May recently announced plans to combat plastic waste with a 25-year plan, which includes encouragement for plastic-free supermarket aisles. UK chain Iceland has promised to go plastic-free on all its own-brand products by 2023.