Single-use plastics in supermarkets are one of the main environmental challenges in Mexico, especially in the seafood, fruit and vegetable aisles, where they have a widespread presence.
Salvador Castell, director of the civil organization Va por la Tierra, acknowledged that although there is a growing awareness for the use of less plastic, the measures adopted in supermarkets are still minimal.
Retailers use plastics for grain wrappers, cleaning product containers and seafood wrappers.
“The reality is that there is very little attention paid to the problem of plastics in supermarkets, but at the same time it is understood that there are no fiscal incentives for these chains to reduce the amount of plastic. There are countries like Spain where there are fines for exceeding the limit of allowed plastics,” he said.
At the federal level, there is no general law prohibiting single-use plastics, and efforts have been primarily state with greater emphasis on the use of the bags that shoppers use to carry products.
Currently, in 29 of the 32 states, the delivery of bags is prohibited, according to the study State Legislations for Single-Use Plastics in Mexico: What Sectors Are Included? , prepared by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Because of the type of food seafood is, they need to be handled hygienic and safe. Photo: Global Seafood.
Castell explained that there are no laws that establish uniform criteria to define what a biodegradable plastic is, which would be an important step.
Although many people come to supermarkets with reusable bags, Castell said that there is still a lot to do inside the stores themselves. For example, it proposes to promote the sale in bulk of products such as beans, rice and seeds, and to encourage consumers to bring their own containers to the seafood area.
“This is quite an effort between supermarkets and society because people could carry their refractories to place their seafood in them, thus promoting good practices of responsible consumption,” he added.
In local markets, there is more opportunity for people to carry their reusable containers. Photo: Itzel Chan.
In November 2021, the Senate of the Republic approved an opinion to reform the General Law for the Prevention and Integral Management of Waste, to eliminate single-use plastics by 2025. However, this reform has not yet been ratified by the Chamber of Deputies.
In the absence of a national law, state congresses have legislated in this regard, which has formed a legal mosaic in which almost all entities have provisions for supermarkets and shops.
When the bans began to apply, many supermarkets complied with the measure of not providing free plastic bags; some even charged for compostable bags or encouraged reusable bags.
However, setbacks have been observed in certain areas, Castell specified, as the application has become more lax and it is increasingly common to see plastic bags back in circulation.
Plastics in the seafood industry, a major challenge
In particular, the situation in the fish and seafood section of supermarkets is complex, because these are fresh foods that require specific sanitary conditions.
“Traditionally, several types of plastic are used in these areas; for example, unicel trays wrapped in plastic film to display fillets, or transparent plastic bags to ship fish, shrimp or other seafood in bulk along with ice. These materials have been popular because of their low cost, waterproofness and because they help contain liquids and odors, maintaining hygiene,” Castell described.
Shellfish is almost always exposed, but between the ice and when serving it to buyers, plastics are used. Photo: Istock.
Most anti-plastic laws exempt primary food packaging for health reasons.
The specialist proposed viable alternatives: trays made with cane bagasse or molded fiber instead of unicel for meat and fish; or waxed paper or coated kraft for small portions and with a low level of humidity.
In any case, he insisted that the best option is for people to carry their own containers.
So far there is no Mexican regulation that specifically prohibits the use of certain types of plastics in the seafood section. The restrictions are general and apply to products such as bags, straws or unicel throughout the supermarket.
Instead, health authorities regulate the conditions of sale of fish. For example, NOM-242-SSA1-2009 and NOM-251-SSA1-2009, issued by the Ministry of Health, establish hygiene practices for handling fish products, although they do not dictate the type of packaging.
In the area of supermarket chains, Walmart de México announced that by 2025 its own-brand packaging will be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable, and will incorporate at least 20% of post-consumer recycled material.
In local markets, in Yucatán, people use these bags called “sabucán” and usually carry their reusable dishes. Photo: Carolina Morales.
The urgency of these changes is evident and according to the organization Greenpeace, 7 million tons of plastic are produced in Mexico every year.
Globally, it is estimated that 13 million tons of plastic waste reach the oceans every year, affecting more than 700 marine species and causing severe ecological and economic damage.
“Perhaps we should return to the customs that have been in communities for years; for example, here in Yucatán people use their 'sabucán' (backpack type bag) and carry their dishes to the markets, so they don't use any plastic,” Castell asked.
* This article was written by Itzel Chan, who covers coastal communities thanks to the support of the Report for the World program .
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