“Save our oceans!” – flash mob highlights the problems of plastic packaging

A flash mob of members and supporters from Transition Marlborough descended on Marlborough’s Waitrose today (Saturday, March 31). 

The group were protesting about the plastic packaging used by Waitrose. They hope to persuade the store to eliminate non-recyclable plastic packaging now.

Sam Page of Transition Marlborough explained: “Many of our members and supporters are extremely worried about the amount of ‘single- use’ plastic that is polluting our environment. Millions of tons of this plastic are finding their way into our oceans, poisoning the water and killing wild-life, including fish, turtles and sea-birds. Micro plastics, invisible to the naked eye, can end up in water supplies.” 

“Supermarkets have a huge role to play in solving these problems. Waitrose claims on their website that they ‘tread lightly on the environment’ and ‘believe in making the right choices for the environment – by reducing packaging, waste, CO2 emissions and responsibly sourcing our food’.” 

“However, those of us who regularly shop at Waitrose have asked why so much of their produce, including organic fruit and vegetables, is wrapped in non-recyclable plastic. Waitrose have told us that they do not intend to introduce recyclable plastic until 2025. This is seven years away! In the meantime, unwanted, non-recyclable plastic is filling up our bins and ending up as landfill.” 

“We want to persuade Waitrose to start introducing recyclable/bio-degradable packaging now.”

The group presented the manager of Waitrose with a letter and a month’s supply of unwanted, non-recyclable plastic packaging that came from buying their food in the Marlborough store.

To emphasise the danger plastic can cause to oceans some members of the group dressed as lobsters and deep-sea divers.  Transition Marlborough campaigns for reduced carbon emissions and a healthy environment. To find out more go to their homepage.