By using less plastic you are eating less plastic.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are currently produced each year. Portugal produces more plastic waste than the European average, more than 40kg per inhabitant. The plastics crisis has reached a level that cannot be overcome by simply eliminating single-use plastics. That is why at Equal Food we intend to fight this crisis on different fronts.
We need to raise awareness about the impact our actions can have on the planet and our future. At Equal Food, our mission to combat food waste does not exclude our advocacy for sustainability, affordable and healthy food, and the fight against climate change. We want to raise awareness with you and develop an ecological and sustainable network. You can join our fight and enjoy our fresh, regional and seasonal food by purchasing one of our plastic-free baskets .
Part of the problem of this crisis could be solved by recycling these products. However, less than 10% of all plastic manufactured is recycled, because the costs of separating and collecting waste are very high. According to Greenpeace, of the global plastic production, only 9% was recycled, 12% was burned and 79% ended up directly in landfills or affecting some ecosystem.
It is important to highlight how the plastics crisis, in addition to being a source of pollution and generating a climate problem, is also a health and social justice problem.
Most of the plastics that pollute the oceans are, in fact, single-use, such as bottles, bags or plates. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, up to 800 species of molluscs, crustaceans and fish already had plastics in their food chains in 2016. Data provided by the European Parliament in 2018 also shows that the oceans are already home to more than 150 million tons of plastic waste. And if nothing is done, by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.
The invisibility of microplastics
Plastics are now beginning to appear in a new state: microplastics. As the name suggests, microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters in diameter. There are two types:
- primary ones, coming from waste for commercial use, for example, in cosmetic products or toothpaste, as well as microfibers from textiles, such as fishing nets;
- Secondary particles are particles that result from the deformation of larger plastic products, such as bottles, through the force of sea waves or solar radiation.
Their biggest problem is the ease with which they have entered our food chains. They are often and easily ingested by marine fauna, from plankton to whales. Once they enter our food chains, they navigate through food products from large retailers or bottled water, and thus find their way to our dinner tables.
In April 2022, The Guardian newspaper confirmed the existence of microplastics lodged in the lung cavities of human beings. Of the 13 patients who underwent surgery, microplastics were found in 11 of them. This discovery confirmed that microplastics can travel through our bodies through the blood and lodge in our organs.
The presence of microplastics in our bodies can have repercussions on our health that are still being studied. This ingestion can have an impact on our immune system, in terms of cancer, hormones, or the development of chronic diseases. For example, a 2021 study conducted in Brazil showed that the origin of most microplastics found in autopsies are fragments from polyethylene, a compound associated with the manufacture of plastic bags.
How does Equal Food participate in the fight against pollution? And how do we act to reduce our ecological footprint?
Our values are intersectional and our mission against food waste ensures our commitment to sustainability.
There are three main ecological fronts in our fight against food waste:
- Reducing the ecological footprint
At Equal Food, we are committed to minimizing the ecological footprint of the transportation of our (im)perfect food. We choose to invest in local and regional farmers and producers, and we design our routes in an optimized way. In other words, we work to shorten transportation times and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. In our work to reduce our ecological footprint, we also use deliveries made, in part, using electric vehicles. In this way, we think about and optimize our routes in order to emit the least possible emissions.
You can check all the delivery zones for our products here .
- Sustainable partnerships
Regarding our partnerships with our local and regional farmers, we always ensure production with the greatest possible minimization of waste of water, soil and CO2 emissions used in its production. We seek to consolidate a sustainable value chain from our suppliers to the delivery of our products.
If you want to get to know our farmers, their stories and how we work together, you can find more information here .
- Zero plastics policy
We also minimise the amount of plastic used to package our products, with our hampers being 99% plastic-free. Our products are delivered in recycled cardboard boxes, and any food that requires a bag, such as mushrooms or blueberries, is packed in paper bags that can also be reused.
We believe that we can work together to combat food waste, and do so through a sustainable and ecological supply chain. Free from processed products, single-use plastics, or unconscionable forms of transportation. If you identify with our values and want to contribute to more sustainable value chains that will perpetuate your future and allow you to eat healthily, Equal Food is the answer.
The ingredients that arrive on your table may be sabotaging your future. Don't consider a packaged existence, enjoy the change you can generate: show what you are (not) made of.
