Home & shopping
Plastic-wrapped fruit and veg → loose produce
Loose produce lets you buy exactly what you need, cutting both plastic and food waste.
Swap Priority
49/100
Worth doing
Swap Priority 49 out of 100: Worth doing- Plastic avoided
- ≈ 2.0 kg a year
- Typical cost
- Varies
- Swap from
- Fruit and vegetables in plastic packaging
- Last reviewed
- 26 September 2026
How strong is the evidence?
How the dials work- Exposure evidenceHow strong is the evidence that the plastic version exposes you to microplastics or plastic chemicals?
- Weak · 1/4
- Environmental evidenceHow strong is the evidence that this swap cuts environmental harm over the product's whole life?
- Moderate · 3/4
- Claim verificationHow well has the alternative's plastic-free claim been verified?
- No product yet
Why swap
Produce packaging is one of the largest sources of household plastic waste. Buying loose also reduces food waste, which has its own large footprint.
What to look for
- Loose produce at supermarkets, markets and greengrocers
- Veg box schemes with returnable or card packaging
- Cotton produce bags you already own
Watch out for
- Some packaging extends shelf life (for example cucumbers) — only swap if you'll eat it in time