Tesco to remove 1 billion pieces of plastic

UK retailer Tesco has stapled its green credentials to its mast and laid down a challenge to its rivals by pledging to eliminate plastic in its packaging of many own-brand products. The pledge cites a commitment to remove one billion pieces of plastic from its products by the end of 2020. The initiative is part of the retailer’s commitment to its 4Rs strategy: Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The items that will affected by the drive include: plastic bags used to pack loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items, replacing them with paper ones; plastic trays for ready meals; secondary lids on products such as cream, yoghurts and cereals; sporks and straws for snack pots and drinks cartons; as well as 200 million pieces of plastic used to pack clothing and greetings cards.

According to a company statement:

“If packaging can’t be recycled, it will have no place at Tesco.”

The retailer announced that in 2019, it had removed over 4,000 tons of materials from 800 lines.