NEW research has found that three-quarters of Brits want food packaging at major events this summer to be plastic-free.
Research commissioned by Xampla and released as part of London Climate Action Week has found 74% of the public want major sporting events to use only plastic-free food packaging.
Enough single-use plastic waste to stretch the length of more than 13,000 football pitches is expected to be generated during the World Cup. Festivals are part of the same picture, with more than 1.3 million single-use food containers thrown away in a typical UK festival season.
Despite growing concern about waste, much of it remains hard to avoid. Many single-use food containers that appear to be paper or card are lined with a thin layer of hidden plastic. Half of the public (49%) said they did not realise most paper and cardboard takeaway food boxes are lined with plastic. This can make food packaging difficult to recycle.
Almost four in five people (79%) say food packaging should clearly state whether it contains plastic, while 80% believe all food packaging, such as those used in takeaways and supermarkets, should be plastic-free where possible.
The research was commissioned by UK materials innovation company Xampla, a provider of plastic-free materials made from plants.
Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, said, “The public care deeply about the environment and want to play their part to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Until now, consumers have had no choice other than to eat their half-time food in packaging made with plastic. Solutions like Morro materials are changing that, making it easier than ever for brands and businesses to offer genuinely plastic-free options.
“With millions of people attending festivals and sporting events this summer, there is a real opportunity for food businesses, the events industry, and manufacturers to demonstrate that scalable, plastic-free alternatives already exist.”
