Today’s Solutions: May 21, 2026

If we want to solve the problem with plastic pollution, we’re going to need supermarkets to stop using single-use plastics altogether. Iceland Foods, a British supermarket chain, is leading the pack when it comes to ditching plastic after announcing it will remove plastic completely from its own-brand products by 2023, which would make it the world’s first supermarket to take on such a bold initiative. Sustainable alternatives will be offered in place of plastic for loose fruit and vegetables, such as paper bags, cotton and cellulose nets, compostable containers, and reusable, plant-based elastic bands to bundle produce like celery and green onions. What’s more, the package-free products will be priced lower than their plastic-covered counterparts. This isn’t the first time Iceland has taken measures to cut down on plastic; the supermarket has already removed plastic from certain produce lines at more than 900 stores, replacing them with recyclable options. The big retailer sets an exemplary case for other giant supermarkets to do their part in the fight against plastic packaging.

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