Ubamarket launches Plastic Alerts in a bid to help Brits reduce their plastic use

The latest feature on the Ubamarket app will allow you to easily identify environmentally-friendly products, simply by scanning your items!

How does it work?

The Ubamarket app allows customers to scan their shopping as they go, guiding them to the products they need in store and letting them skip the till queues by paying for everything in-app. ‘Plastic Alerts’ works by displaying the plastic content of all scanned items, allowing you to choose a more environmentally-friendly alternative.

Our latest research found that:

•  82% of British shopper believe that the level of plastic packaging on food and drink needs to be changed drastically
• 57% of Brits think plastic pollution is the single-greatest threat to life and the environment in modern history
• 44% of the nation actively buy products that have less of an impact on the environment, even if they are more expensive
• 42% of the British public want to be more environmentally conscious but feel they don’t know enough about recycling and plastic pollution to make informed decisions

Following the success of David Attenborough’s Planet Earth series, public perception of single-use plastics has shifted dramatically, Brits are concerned with images of animals caught in plastic packaging. ‘Single-use’ was recently announced as Collins Dictionary’s word of the year and corporations and consumers alike have felt the pressure to reduce the plastic waste they produce. Earlier on in 2018, Carlsberg announced its intention to remove plastic packaging from its beers, switching to a biodegradable material for their six pack rings.

Ubamarket’s latest research highlights growing sentiment amongst British consumers on the astonishing amount of plastic we as a society are wasting. However, the sentiment is accompanied by a certain level of cynicism, that their efforts are somewhat in vain when compared with the vast tonnage of plastic waste produced by supermarkets and their suppliers.

The Plastic Alerts empower consumers, who definitely shouldn’t underestimate the power they have over suppliers and supermarkets. Spending power is just about the most effective way shoppers can apply pressures to manufacturers to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in their products.

Find out how to get Ubamarket in your store