Reduction of Single-Use Plastic: How MCA’s Insights from Canada’s Grocery Aisles Helped Environmental Defence Canada

It is no secret that single-use plastic packaging is an environmental problem. Plastic waste, much of it coming from plastic food packaging, is everywhere. And the concerns are mounting. As plastic pollution fills our landfills, waterways, and the oceans around the world, the call for reduction and elimination grows louder.

The plastic pollution crisis doesn’t just create waste; it also brings potential health risks. Certain chemicals in plastic packaging, like phthalates and bisphenols, can leach into our food, posing health risks, especially for infants and young children. Clearly, reducing plastic use in grocery stores is a priority—but achieving that requires reliable, clear data. 

 

Survey of Plastic and Packaging in Canadian Grocery Stores

Environmental Defence Canada is an environmental advocacy organization that has been working at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels to decrease Canadians’ exposure to toxic chemicals, end plastic pollution, tackle climate change, and build a clean economy. In 2024Environmental Defence Canada published a report called Left Holding the Bag: A Survey of Plastic Packaging in Canada’s Grocery Stores and drew some startling insights. MCA led the on-site audit of major grocery retailers, analyzing data that shed light on just how much plastic packaging fills these stores.

 

Overview of Key Findings

Across four key departments—produce, baby food, pet food, and soups—plastic was hard to avoid. In the produce section, for example, 71% of items were packaged in plastic, despite the fact that produce often has natural “packaging” in the form of peels or skins. When it comes to baby food, single-use plastics dominate, with a hefty 76% of baby food items found in plastic. Those familiar glass jars? They’re being replaced by plastic stand-up pouches.

Pet food is close behind at 66%, with a trend toward non-recyclable, flexible plastic packaging. And while soups fared slightly better with only 35% in plastic, the data still shows a preference for mixed-material, hard-to-recycle packaging types like aseptic cartons. There’s a pattern here: convenience over sustainability, with high stakes for our health and the environment.

 

Health and Environmental Impacts

The environmental and health implications are too big to ignore. In Canada, only about 15% of plastic packaging gets recycled; the rest? It ends up in landfills, incinerators, or, worse, natural habitats. And that’s just the environmental side. When it comes to health, the risks are potentially more significant, but a great deal of research still needs to be done before we can draw firm conclusions. 

Consider phthalates and bisphenols, two common chemicals in plastics that can transfer into food and affect the human body. Phthalates, for instance, have been linked to reproductive health issues and developmental risks in children. This is particularly concerning for products like baby food, where packaging is in direct contact with consumables. 

 

Challenges for Eliminating Plastic in Grocery Stores

This isn’t just a matter of swapping out one package for another. Retailers face real challenges when trying to reduce plastic waste and even greater challenges if zero plastic waste is the end goal. 

Retailers want to minimize food waste, and many turn to plastic packaging to keep products on the shelf longer. But, with consumer expectations shifting toward sustainability, stores are in a tight spot. How do they reduce plastic and keep prices and waste low? It’s a balancing act, to say the least.

 

MCA’s Contribution: Providing Clear Data for Better Decisions

MCA supports retailers across sectors by providing detailed, high-quality actionable intelligence. MCA’s contribution to the Environmental Defence survey was pivotal in uncovering these trends. Their team conducted a robust audit across 54 Canadian grocery stores, analyzing more than 40,000 products for packaging type and in-store pricing incentives. That’s a big job, but it’s one that MCA handled with precision.

Without the clarity that MCA’s data provided, it would be tough to understand the full picture.

 

Beyond Grocery: MCA’s Expertise Across Retail Sectors

At MCA, we know grocery is only part of the retail picture. Retailers today need data that’s not just accurate but adaptable, actionable—and fast. Our expertise in audits and data collection covers a wide range of retail environments, giving you insights that help you move from insight to action in a heartbeat.

Product Audits: Need a clear look at what’s on your shelves and how it’s presented? Our product audits deliver the detail you need to make informed choices on packaging, pricing, and placement. Whether you’re aiming to cut down on plastic or streamline inventory, we bring you insights to steer your strategy in the right direction.

Price and Retail Audits: Price matters, and how it’s structured can make all the difference in what customers buy. We dig into the details—like why packaged produce sells better than loose, for example. These audits reveal the hidden patterns in your pricing, helping you fine-tune strategies to stay competitive and meet customer expectations.

Data Collection: Want to understand trends, track customer preferences, or evaluate packaging performance? Our data collection does more than fill in the blanks—it’s a roadmap to smarter, data-driven decisions. Sure, it’s great for sustainability goals, but these insights go beyond that, helping you respond to changes in the retail landscape and adapt on the fly.

 

Take the Guesswork Out of Retail

If you’re ready to gain insights that make a real difference, we’re here to talk. Today’s retail challenges—sustainability, pricing, product placement—don’t need to be a guessing game. MCA’s audits and data collection services give you the tools to act on a range of goals, from boosting pricing strategies to improving overall performance.

At MCA, we’re committed to precision and flexibility, helping retailers across industries navigate an ever-changing market and embrace new opportunities. No need to leave it to guesswork—let data do the heavy lifting. We’ll show you how.