Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO) has pledged to remove 1bn pieces of plastic from its own-brand products on UK shelves by the end of next year, as part of its sustainability plan.
Small plastic bags used to pack loose food items will be replaced with paper ones, while plastic trays, lids, straws and plastics used in clothing and greeting cards packaging will be removed.
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The grocer conducted a review of product packaging in 2018 to improve its environmental impact, vowing to remove hard-to-recycle materials and working with suppliers on the issue.
UK consumers have become more conscious about the amount of waste going into landfill or in the oceans, pointing the finger at major grocers, with J Sainsbury PLC (LON:SBRY) announcing it would halve plastic packaging by 2025 earlier this year.
Big supermarket chains produce more than 800,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste every year, according to data from the Guardian.
“By focusing on solutions that we can apply across all our UK stores and supply chain, we can make a significant difference and achieve real scale in our efforts to tackle plastic,” said Tesco’s outgoing chief executive Dave Lewis in a statement.