Some people argue that plastic wrapping being used to package coconuts is another way of increasing waste and pollution on Earth, while some other people believe plastic-wrapped coconuts are a good idea, thanks to the film, which is a recyclable material and keeps the milk fresh. The Genuine Coconut Company says the film is not a standard plastic, but is made from recycled materials.
But one customer asked why a coconut shell was not considered good enough protection. Ecologist and blogger Alex Morss, said: “This coconut is not sold in its natural container, without processing, as nature intended… Plastic wraps are not natural, sustainable or biodegradable.”
In the world, plastic is getting consumed a lot; for example, the UK uses 3.7 million tonnes of plastic a year. For this reason, people are trying to reduce plastic usage; for instance, by charging 5p, or by removing the plastic packaging from different products. Some shops – such as Sainsbury’s – say it has reduced its packaging by 30% over the last five years.
The Spanish company behind Genuine Coconut says the wrapping is specially designed and can be recycled. It also said the coconut film would prevent the spoiling and the evaporation of the coconut milk, and keep it fresh for longer without preservatives and chemicals. Without the film, the coconuts could not be classed as organic, the company adds.
A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said the supermarket had no plans to review the availability of a product that is “organic and comes in packaging that is fully recyclable”.
For this product, people have differing ideas: some think that plastic wrapped coconuts are a very good idea, while some think that they are a terrible idea.
By Michele Maranzana