Tesco stores in Bucks are removing tonnes of plastic from their packaging

The supermarket chain will become the first UK retailer to remove plastic- wrapped multi-packs from all Tesco stores and replace them with plastic-free multi-buys. This will see 67 million pieces of plastic eliminated.

The scheme will roll out across Buckinghamshire Tesco stores from 2 March. It is part of Tesco’s 4Rs strategy – Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – which means it will remove non-recyclable and excess packaging from its business.

Tins will be available individually, with no plastic wrap holding them together any more. They’ll still be eligible for multi-buy deals. It is estimated that about 183,000 tinned multi-packs are bought every day at Tesco.

The change applies to Tesco own-brand products and branded products, such as Heinz Beanz. It will help Buckinghamshire’s households reduce the amount of plastic they use. It contributes to Tesco’s commitment to remove 1 billion pieces of plastic from its own-brand products by the end of 2020.

Products affected include Tesco and Heinz soups, Tesco, Heinz and Branston baked beans and spaghetti products, Tesco tinned tomatoes, Tesco and Green Giant sweetcorn, Tesco, Princes and John West tuna

Tesco CEO Dave Lewis said:

“As part of this work, removing plastic wrapped multi-packs 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 ‘multi-pack’ price.”

Where packaging can’t be removed – for example, where it prevents food waste – Tesco will work with its suppliers to reduce it to an absolute minimum. The retailer will explore new opportunities 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.

Georgiana de Noronha, President of Kraft Heinz Northern Europe, said:

“We’re excited to be partnering with Tesco on this. 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.”