While there are many factors at play as to why groceries are so expensive, one of them is something that may have never even crossed your mind.

Food Professor at Dalhousie University, Sylvain Charlebois, explains that in recent years, recycling fees for food packaging have been transferred from municipalities to food processors and retailers. As processors are incentivized to use materials that are more easily recycled, the costs to do so are often passed down the production chain and eventually downloaded onto consumers.

Charlebois estimates that additional costs are between 3-4 billion dollars more up the food chain, however it is unknown exactly what it’s costing shoppers at the grocery store.

“At the end of the day, I think we all want greener packaging, but we also need to recognize that these efforts will end up costing more at the grocery store for all of us.”

However, he adds that these new packaging policies are somewhat paradoxical. Although green, they may actually increase food waste through the use of less protective packaging.

“The other thing that irks consumers is shrinkflation,” he explains. “If the cost to produce whatever your producing gets higher and you still want to ensure your product remains attractive, well you’re going to have to reduce quantities and keep the same price.”