Plastic-wrapped cucumbers to disappear from Estonia's stores
Starting in 2030, Estonian stores will no longer be allowed to sell individually plastic-wrapped cucumbers and other small packages of fruits and vegetables, as new EU rules come into force.
Individually shrink-wrapped cucumbers are set to become a thing of the past in Estonian stores. Other fruits and vegetables that have sometimes been packaged in this way will also be affected. The change is part of new EU rules aimed at curbing excess and unnecessary packaging, which will come into force on January 1, 2030.
Dagny Repp, head of packaging at the Ministry of Climate, told "Aktuaalne kaamera" that from 2030, producers and sellers will no longer be permitted to pre-package quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kilograms. The European Commission has until January 1, 2027, to present a list of fruits and vegetables to which the ban will not apply, making the regulation's full impact hard to assess at this point, Repp noted.
Repp pointed out that many Estonian shops already sell a large proportion of their fruits and vegetables loose, meaning the change may not have as significant an impact on retailers as it could. However, some sector representatives have said the change may bring higher costs and bureaucracy, at least in the short term.
Teet Koljal, a spokesperson for supermarket chain Rimi, noted that, for instance, the regulations will require changes to product ranges and packaging solutions, which will likely be passed on as costs to the consumer in the short term. Over the longer term, uniform EU rules may make the market clearer and more transparent, and more efficient packaging solutions and reduced material use could ultimately help cut costs.
Some produce requires packaging regardless of quantity, Koljal added, in order to preserve freshness, prevent microbiological hazards, avoid physical damage or oxidation, and keep organic and non-organic produce separate.
Nele Peil, CEO of the Estonian Traders Association, said that increasing environmental protection and reducing consumer convenience will certainly bring costs and price increases. Since the changes are Europe-wide, solutions are also expected to be EU-wide. Peil noted that Estonia's small population means the costs will have to be borne by a smaller number of people compared with some densely populated EU member states. She called for flexibility for businesses, considering the country's remoteness and dispersed population.
After 2030, ultra-thin plastic bags will still be available, though their use is subjective – for instance, bananas generally do not require them, but they may be needed for larger shopping loads. Other plastics to be phased out include shrink wrap around multi-packs of drinks cans and single-use shampoo bottles in hotels.
