Fruits and vegetables are still sold in plastic packaging, even though a clear ban has existed since the Royal Packaging Ordinance was approved. Greenpeace has publicly condemned this practice, calling it an instance of illegal plastic use and urging citizens to report it when seen.
The Royal Decree on Containers went into effect on January 1, banning plastic-wrapped fruit and vegetables in stores larger than 300 square meters. Yet Greenpeace reports that many fruits and vegetables continue to appear in film and plastic trays, signaling ongoing noncompliance in some outlets.
In the campaign, Greenpeace asked shoppers to document plastic-wrapped batches of produce and share photographs with the public. The organization urged people to weigh and photograph any fruit or vegetable weighing less than 1.5 kilograms that is wrapped in plastic, and to report the findings to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to prompt enforcement of the law.
Julio Barea, who leads Greenpeace’s waste campaign, pressed for decisive government action to ensure that retailers remove plastic from fruits and vegetables. The regulation also compels wholesalers and retailers to offer fresh fruit and vegetables sold in bulk or in forms that do not rely on plastic packaging, encouraging dedicated space for unpackaged products in large stores. The rule suggests allocating at least 20 percent of sales floor space in outlets over 400 square meters to primary unpackaged products, including bulk sales or reusable packaging options.
Greenpeace spokespersons argued that the ministry responsible for agriculture and food has often failed to publish an exempt list of items from the law, leaving industries unsure and slow to adapt. They noted that some products are still presented in plastic labeled as biodegradable or compostable, which is perceived as an empty concession if the overall packaging remains unnecessary or excessive. Critics say the situation reflects a broader problem in the plastics industry, where incentives may still favor packaging over sustainability:
According to Greenpeace, the ongoing presence of plastic packaging highlights a gap between policy intent and on-the-ground practice. They argue that the business sector appears unwilling to fully abandon plasticization of fruit and vegetables sold to consumers, even when alternatives exist and the law calls for it.
The organization invites the public to participate by photographing fruit and vegetables that weigh less than 1.5 kilograms and are wrapped in plastic in supermarkets and other large retail environments, then sharing images with the tag ‘#Plasticoilegal’ on social media and tagging the relevant ministries. The call to action emphasizes transparency and accountability in the retail sector and seeks to mobilize consumer pressure to accelerate reform.
Finally, Greenpeace advises shoppers to favor bulk purchases and to use reusable bags as practical steps toward reducing plastic waste and supporting sustainable packaging practices.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1. TAKE PHOTOS: Capture images in supermarkets and large stores that clearly show whole fruits and vegetables packaged in plastic and weighing under 1.5 kilograms.
2. SHARE THE PHOTO ON SOCIAL NETWORKS: Post with the hashtag ‘#Plasticoilegal’ and mention the two relevant ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ecological Transition.
INSTAGRAM: @gobmap and @miteco.gov
TWITTER: @mapagob and @mitecogob
A broader discussion of the campaign and its aims is available from Greenpeace Spain, which outlines the goals, progress, and ongoing calls for action related to illegal plastic use in produce packaging.
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Notes regarding outreach and public accountability emphasize that consumers can play a key role in pressuring policymakers and retailers to adhere to packaging reforms and to invest in more sustainable solutions for fruit and vegetable presentation.
Contact details for the environment department have been removed here to maintain privacy and focus on the campaign’s public-interest objectives.