from: McDonald, Kristin (Kristin.McDonald@7-11.com)
to: Beth Terry
date: Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 7:57 AM
subject: 7-Eleven Customer Concern

Ms. Terry,
I received your concern regarding the possibility of future plans to individually wrap bananas in plastic. I recently read this article as well [the article in USA Today], and believe I understand your concern, however I don’t want to make assumptions. Please provide me details as to why you would be against this change, and I would be happy to roll up your concerns to the appropriate person. Please know that this is only a small test which is currently only in a small number of stores in Dallas, Texas, and the plan to introduce it nationwide is several months away, and this would only occur if the test had positive results. Please feel free to email me directly or call me at the number listed below to discuss your concerns.

Thank you for your concern, our goal is to meet every customer need or concern, and your feedback is always welcome.
Thanks,
Kristin McDonald
Field Consultant
Market 2369
7-Eleven, Inc.
Kristin.McDonald@7-11.com
503-939-5311

Here is what I wrote back to her today:

from: Beth Terry
to: “McDonald, Kristin” (Kristin.McDonald@7-11.com)
date: Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 11:16 AM
subject: Re: 7-Eleven Customer Concern
mailed-bygmail.com

Thanks for your response, Kristin.

I have several concerns:

First, of course, is the non-biodegradable waste from plastic packaging. While a banana is completely biodegradable and will compost in about a week or so, a plastic bag lasts virtually forever in the environment.

Second, plastic is made from petrochemicals which are highly toxic from production to disposal. Many of us refuse any food packaged in plastic for this reason and opt for produce that is unwrapped. There are plenty of ways to store produce in the refrigerator without plastic packaging. In fact, the Berkeley Farmers Market has created a comprehensive list of methods for storing produce without plastic.

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/images/Berkeley%20Farmers%20Market%20Tips%20for%20Storing%20Produce.pdf

Third, biodegradable plastic bags are not a solution either. Many biodegradable plastics are problematic. They either break down into smaller pieces of plastic, which are taken up into the food chain, or they are made from GMO crops like corn that use incredible amounts of petrochemicals to grow.

We feel that putting a banana in an extra bag is a big waste of resources and energy when we need to be conserving as much as possible. It is a step in the direction of perceived convenience and plays into our society’s irrational germphobia that is being perpetuated by marketers in order to sell products.

Bananas have a natural wrapper. It is ironic to add plastic to something nature has already protected so well. If the issue is keeping the fruit fresh longer, perhaps 7-Eleven ought to rethink its strategy for selling fruit, promoting bananas more heavily than chips, candy and other junk food. Higher turnover of the product is a healthier way to ensure freshness than encasing in plastic.

Sincerely,

–
Beth Terry
.-= Beth Terry´s last blog ..Jackson Browne: Defiant About Bottled Water =-.

Thank you for your response. Del Monte is currently working on a
sustainable packaging solution. As was reported, we are testing the
product to learn consumer response. We know that our customers want
yellow bananas, and for them to stay yellow longer. Interestingly,
there is a positive environmental impact from carrying wrapped bananas.
Because their shelf life is now doubled, the number of truck deliveries
are reduced, which provides a corresponding reduction in the carbon
footprint. With a longer “shelf life”, there is less waste; and food
waste does come with an environmental cost. Many may not know that
imported bananas are transported in plastic bags that control ripening,
dehydration and respiration, whether they are organic, large commercial
or fair trade bananas. Also, there are customers who do not like others
touching food they plan to purchase — even naturally wrapped bananas -
particularly during this period of heightened flu-virus awareness.
Thank you for your comments and we will take them into consideration.

Carolyn