Tesco to bin plastic-wrap in Campbeltown store

Expect to see changes on the shelves at Tesco’s store in Campbeltown as the firm starts to replace plasticwrapped multi-packs.

Customers will still get the same ‘multi-pack’ value, just without the extra plastic. The supermarket chain says that these cutbacks will eliminate 67 million pieces of plastic, the equivalent of 350 tonnes.

Tins will be available individually, with no plastic wrap holding them together, and will still be eligible for multi-buy deals.

More than 40 per cent of Tesco customers include multi-packs in their shopping, with baked beans, tuna, tinned tomatoes and soup among the frequently-bought grocery items in the UK.

The change applies to both Tesco own brand products and well-known branded products; this is all part of Tesco’s commitment to remove one billion pieces of plastic from its own brand products by the end of 2020.

Tesco’s 4Rs strategy – remove, reduce, reuse, recycle – means it will remove non-recycleable and excess packaging from its business. Where packaging cannot be removed, for example where it prevents food waste, Tesco will work with its suppliers to reduce it to an absolute minimum.

The retailer is looking at ways to reuse packaging and ensure anything left is recycled as part of a ‘closed loop system’.

At the end of last year Tesco removed all hard-to-recycle materials from Tesco own brand products and is working with suppliers to do the same.

In August last year, Tesco also briefed 1,500 suppliers that packaging will be a factor in its decisions on which products are sold in its stores.

Changes will start to take place from the beginning of March.