UK retailer Marks & Spencer has announced that it is introducing avocados with laser-printed bar codes, in order to reduce paper waste in its stores, reports The Telegraph.
The publication reports that labels are etched onto the fruit’s skin with lasers, rather than the normal price sticker, which will save ten tonnes of paper and five tonnes of glue every year.
It added that the new method could be introduced to other fruits and vegetables, and other supermarkets looking for new ways to reduce paper waste could also adopt the scheme.
Sustainability Progress
"When we first saw the technology in Sweden a couple of years ago, I knew we had to get involved," said Marks & Spencer's fruit technologist, Charlie Curtis.
"We've been following it for a while and are so excited to finally be launching it on avocados. Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and the laser-labelling is a brilliant way for us to reduce packaging and energy use."
The avocados will feature the retailer's logo, best-before date, country of origin, and product code, for entering at the till.
"Providing all goes well with the avocado-lasering, we could look at rolling the technology out to all sorts of other fruit and vegetables in the future," said Curtis. "We have the potential to reduce packaging exponentially, which is very exciting."
In March, German retailer Rewe revealed that it would also use laser-labelling on avocados. Swedish supermarket ICA implemented the system back in January for avocados and sweet potatoes, while Marks & Spencer has also trialled laser labels on its coconuts in the UK.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
