Plastic-free grocery shopping: Understanding opportunities for practice transformation

The reliance on single-use plastic packaging is a growing concern globally. Approximately 78 million metric tons of plastic packaging are produced annually, with only 9% being recycled. The environmental impact of single-use plastics is significant, endangering wildlife and contaminating the food chain.

This brief highlights key findings and recommendations based on research exploring consumer behaviour towards plastic-free shopping, particularly in New Zealand, where such practices are emerging but not yet widespread.