SUPERMARKET shoppers in Mold and Llangollen are being encouraged to hand back packaging at the supermarket tills to highlight how much of what we buy is unnecessarily wrapped in plastic this weekend.

Plastic Free Mold are joining communities across the UK to raise awareness of avoidable, single-use plastic and to put pressure on the retail industry to take more responsibility for what they are distributing.

Saskia Webster, lead volunteer for the event, said: “Our first Unwrap at Tesco in Mold was very successful and we showed that customers really do care about the amount of unnecessary packaging. There was clearly an appetite for more and at other store locations.

“We heard Plastic Free Llangollen were doing an Unwrap at Aldi in Llangollen at the same time and thought it would increase awareness if we joined them. We would love it if you could show your support but please remember to bring your own containers for your unwrapped shopping.

“You can unwrap as little or as much as you like and we will be there to help. Last time, someone unwrapped individual sweets, which demonstrates just how saturated in plastic our shopping has become.”

Organised as part of the Surfers Against Sewage ‘Plastic Free Communities’ campaign, the purpose of a Mass Unwrap is to visually show the high levels of plastic packaging on our food and to call for change.

Mass Unwraps are non-confrontational and family friendly events, usually held over a two-hour period, and in that time the customers will continue to shop and pay as normal.

When they move away from the checkouts, they can then visit one of the group volunteers who will help them take any unnecessary plastic packaging from their purchases and put it in a trolley for recycling or proper disposal. Counting up the items of plastic as they go, volunteers also gather evidence to show the scale of wrapping used.

The upcoming Mass Unwrap – which will be held at the Aldi store in Mold opposite McDonald’s - is one of a number of actions the local group are taking as they try to reduce the impact of single use plastic in their day-to-day lives.

To take part, head along to Aldi on Saturday, September 7, in Mold or Llangollen between 11am and 1pm.