The industry’s trade association, the Retail Council of Canada, said the new policy “unfortunately” targets large grocers exclusively.
“Which is impractical, as Canadian retailers lack direct control and influence over the global supply chain,” said Michelle Wasylyshen, the council’s national spokesperson.
we buy plenty of canned and boxed food without being able to see the food itself
It is quite true that the upstream doesn’t demand plastic for plastic’s sake, it demands plastic only when it provides a real utility. Granted, even cans are typically lined in plastic and boxes often contain plastic bags to allow the product to remain self-stable and fresh. If the customer can’t see the product, they expect some guarantees about its quality, and plastic can help with that.