V
Villan Of The North
Guest
The issue is not the need for plastic from the supermarkets but the culture they have created over the years amongst the customers. A few years ago I knew an older Norwegian guy who moved to Sweden, when I saw him again he was visiting and doing something almost unheard of, he came shopping in Norway from Sweden. There is a massive trade in the opposite direction as Swedish prices are usually much lower but I've never heard of Swedes coming here to shop. His reason? In Sweden there are too many people trying to serve him fresh goods, he wanted to go to the fridges and freezers and buy pre-packed stuff.
Why am I telling this story? Well it highlights the issue of the customers demanding pre-packed food, which is inveriably packed in plastic and there is rarely a good plastic free alternative to this type of product. (As a short explanation, Norwegians are often insular and don't like to talk to anyone other than those in their social circles, the way shops developed from counter service to pre-packaged good plays up to typical Norwegian sensibilities and then magnifies them)
If the customers demand a product the supermarkets will sell it, simple. There is very little moral in the grocery business, it's all about selling whatever the customer wants, otherwise they will sell nothing. This has to be consumer lead.
Why am I telling this story? Well it highlights the issue of the customers demanding pre-packed food, which is inveriably packed in plastic and there is rarely a good plastic free alternative to this type of product. (As a short explanation, Norwegians are often insular and don't like to talk to anyone other than those in their social circles, the way shops developed from counter service to pre-packaged good plays up to typical Norwegian sensibilities and then magnifies them)
If the customers demand a product the supermarkets will sell it, simple. There is very little moral in the grocery business, it's all about selling whatever the customer wants, otherwise they will sell nothing. This has to be consumer lead.