Tesco has announced that it is rewinding the clock back to the days of traditional bakeries by removing plastic from a number of its most popular items and selling loose loaves of bread.
The retailer noted that the move will result in the annual removal of 33 million pieces of plastic from loaves of bread and doughnuts, and reduce the plastic used to pack breakfast pastries by more than 120 tonnes each year.
Sarah Bradbury, group quality director, Tesco, said, “Many of our customers remember the days when bakeries used much less plastic and we want to go further and faster in removing plastic where alternatives are possible."
Loose Bread
According to Tesco nearly 25 of the supermarket’s in-store bakery bread lines are now being sold loose, although customers can request a paper bag should they want one.
Doughnuts will now be sold in a fully recyclable paper bag with a glassine window, it added.
And in a move that significantly reduces the amount of plastic being used, croissants and pain au chocolat will switch from plastic trays to a traditional recyclable paper bag with a small plastic window.
Both the pastries and doughnuts will be hand-packed in store into bags that are structurally sturdy with a flat base, to ensure they still get home in perfect condition.
Pointless Plastic Removal
Catherine David, director collaboration and change of climate action NGO, WRAP said that it is positive to hear of further moves by Tesco, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, to remove unnecessary packaging and tackle plastic waste.
“Initiatives by Tesco such as the removal of pointless plastic around multi-packs, while ensuring that shoppers are not short-changed, is a win-win for its customers and the environment," she added.
"Let’s keep this momentum going.”
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more packaging stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
