1. Compare & Contrast
Look at the two representations below. Which do you prefer?
Loose & Fresh
Vegetables displayed openly without barriers.
Packaged
Wrapped in plastic film on styrofoam trays.
Discussion Point:
Most shoppers find Image A more appealing because the produce looks fresher. Image B raises concerns about environmental waste due to single-use plastics.
Read the Complaint
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to draw your attention to a pressing problem to which your stores are contributing significantly by their use of non-biodegradable plastic packaging.
Like many others, I am deeply concerned by the huge quantity of plastic used to package items which simply do not require it. We are told that since the 1950s the world has produced more than eight billion tonnes of plastic, of which around 80 percent has been thrown into a landfill or left as waste in the general environment. It is essential that we all take immediate action to prevent this.
Much of this plastic is a result of unnecessary packaging. It is vital that this is reduced as much as possible. Some supermarkets have managed to cut the amount of plastic packaging by using sustainable cardboard instead of plastic, or simply by removing unnecessary plastic from tissue boxes, pizza boxes and other items. I would ask you to investigate alternative forms of packaging for your products as a matter of urgency.
In the meantime, perhaps the quickest way to start to tackle this problem would be to sell fruit and vegetables without any extra packaging, creating a plastic-free aisle, where customers could use paper bags or their own reusable containers. Around a third of consumers say that they base their buying decisions on ethical practices, so providing an opportunity to buy fruit and vegetables plastic-free could help you to win over a large number of new customers.
I urge you to consider these possible solutions very seriously, and do everything in your power to reduce the amount of plastic you use in packaging, to protect the planet.
I look forward to your response.
Yours faithfully,
Farid Asmar
Check Your Understanding
1. What is the "pressing problem" Farid describes?
2. Which is NOT a solution suggested by Farid?
3. How does Farid try to persuade the shop owner?
Writing Skill: The Structure of a Formal Email
Farid's email follows a perfect structure. Click the buttons below to reveal which part of the email corresponds to the structural element.
State clearly why you are writing in the very first sentence.
Use facts or statistics to support your argument and show you are serious.
Don't just complain; offer constructive ways to fix the problem.
Politely demand action and close formally. Use "Yours faithfully" when you don't know the name (Dear Sir or Madam), and "Yours sincerely" when you do know the name.