Trader Joe's offers a good selection of non-gmo and organic produce, a lot of which is pre-washed and very convenient for quick meal prep. They also offer frozen foods and meals that are equally convenient and free of preservatives and other artificial additives. Unfortunately, the majority of these products are wrapped, boxed, or bagged in plastic. The plastic bags used for pre-washed produce and frozen foods are almost never recyclable, which means they end up in landfills where they remain for decades. The plastic tubs are often recyclable, but there is no guarantee those tubs will be recycled (even in 2017, some states still do not have good recycling programs and recycling at all is optional). Not to mention the fact that food packaged in plastic is exposed to all of the chemicals in that plastic, which increases human and environmental exposure to these known toxins. Trader Joe's is an excellent company in that everything in their stores is non-gmo and non-irradiated, even if the product is not organic (there are signs in their stores that state this). However, there is a disconnect in health standards, environmental accountability, and company ethics when all the people-safe food is packaged in BPA-laden, non-recyclable plastic bags, boxes, and wraps. The chain of environmental responsibility needs to start at the top. Trader Joe's should set the example and take their company standards to the next level by demanding their suppliers switch to eco-friendly packaging. Bio-plastics are completely biodegradable and compostable, food safe, and they are readily available. For a company as large as Trader Joe's, the potential additional cost to switch to eco-friendly packaging should pale in comparison to the much greater impact plastic-free packaging would have on health and the environment.
