Unpacking the Opportunity: Removing plastic from cucumbers case study

In order to help people to buy the right amount of produce, reduce household food waste, prevent single use packaging and save the associated carbon emissions, we need to increase the amount of fresh fruit and veg that's sold loose. But to move to a truly loose retail environment, applicable produce must move through the entire supply chain unpackaged. ​

This case study looks at cucumbers which, from member feedback in developing the pathway to selling more loose fruit and veg, is one of the more difficult fresh produce items to transition to loose. 

The producer was able to implement solutions and successfully transition to supplying loose cucumbers within 18 months, with no higher loss than when the produce was packaged after testing a series of interventions.

Fresh fruit and veg suppliers can use these learnings to start their own transition to package-free produce.