A SUPERMARKET giant has vowed to scrap shrink-wrapped multipacks across its own-brand and branded tin food.
Tesco hopes the move will remove 350 million tonnes of plastic waste every year.
The decision, which is the first of its kind by a major UK retailer, has seen it join forces with canned food firms including Heinz and Green Giant to remove all plastic-wrapped multipacks and replace them with multi-buy deals.
The new policy, which will be rolled out from March 2, will apply to all canned foods.
However, Tesco will continue to sell its remaining stocks.
Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “We are removing all unnecessary and non-recyclable plastic from Tesco.
READ MORE: Scottish SMEs mean business on the environment
“As part of this work, removing plastic-wrapped multipacks from every Tesco store in the UK will cut 350 tonnes of plastic from the environment every year and customers will still benefit from the same great value ‘multipack’ price.”
Tesco bosses say the pledge will see 67m pieces of plastic removed from its stores, helping with their aim of cutting out one billion pieces from its own products by the end of 2020.
At present more than 40% of Tesco customers buy tinned multipacks, with 183,000 sold across its stores each day.
More than 100m Heinz products alone are sold in plastic-wrapped multipacks annually at the store.
Heinz said it is also looking at similar initiatives with other retailers. The company estimates if it could be expanded across the whole market it could help reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 3300 tonnes.
Tesco had already run a trial to remove plastic-wrapped multipacks of tinned products.
The company tested out the scheme in its Bar Hill Extra store, where it trials a raft of packaging pilots.
Georgiana de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz in Northern Europe, said: “While we know we have more to do, this initiative is good news for the environment, and for the millions of people who enjoy Heinz varieties every day, as they’ll still be able to benefit from the same great value for money our multipacks provide.”
At the end of last year, Tesco removed all hard-to-recycle materials from its own-brand products and is working with suppliers to do the same.
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