Plastic-free fresh produce department

In September 2018, Albert Heijn announced its intention to reduce the percentage of packaging material by 25% by 2025. The use of plastic in fruit and vegetables is a particular thorn in the side of consumers' side. That is why today a trial will start in the Albert Heijn shop on the Genderenplein in Hoofddorp, where a hundred products from the fruit and vegetable department will be on the shelf unpackaged. The aim of the trial is to see how this affects the quality and shelf life of products and how customers react to a fruit and vegetable department where most products do not have plastic packaging.

Packaging has a function. They are important for the shelf life and quality of products and prevent food waste. Some vegetables stay well in plastic for longer and portion packs are useful for small households. The packaging then prevents food waste and therefore brings environmental benefits. It can do less. That is why Albert Heijn has been working for years on reducing plastic by removing or reducing packaging or using other, more recyclable materials such as: convex lids of soft fruit containers have been replaced by a thin layer, the weight of the plastic packaging of fabric softener has been halved, tea boxes are no longer in foil and the caps of the water bottles are thinner plastic and fixed so that they are thrown less on the street. For every product that is improved, the packaging is also examined.

Plastic especially annoyance with vegetables and fruit

Marit van Egmond, CEO of Albert Heijn recognizes the annoyance of customers when it comes to packaging: "Especially in fruit and vegetables, many customers wonder whether plastic packaging is really necessary. We currently use 'dry misting' in more than 150 stores: a refined misting of water that keeps vegetables fresh for longer. We are now going to test whether the combination of 'dry misting' and no plastic packaging will improve the quality and shelf life in such a way that we can start saving on plastic packaging.

Fruit and vegetables without plastic

In the fruit and vegetable department in the Albert Heijn shop on the Genderenplein in Hoofddorp, more than a hundred uncooled plastic-free organic and non-organic products such as carrots, cherry tomatoes, wrappers, lettuce varieties, broccoli, celery and fruit such as oranges, pears, apples and mango are on sale from Monday 25 March to Sunday 28 April. Excluded are potatoes, onions, herbs, convenience, chilled vegetables and chilled fruit.