British supermarket chain Tesco has introduced new recyclable plastic packaging to save more than a million eggs from going to waste each year.
Following the success trial of the innovative packaging, the plastic alternative will replace pulp cartons in a number of stores.
If an egg breaks while being transported to stores or households in pulp cartons, it seeps through the box and damage other packs underneath it.
An eight-week trial using Tesco’s new 12-egg packs was carried out in nearly 200 stores.
The packaging will reduce food waste and offer a more environmentally-friendly solution, said Lee Gray, a technologist at Tesco.
“If used across all our free range egg range then it will save on average more than one million eggs each year that would otherwise be going to waste,” explained Gray.
“The results of the trial are very positive and we hope to be able to roll out the packaging by the end of the year.”
The new plastic cartons also take up less space in transportation and on the shelves.
Tesco sells around 1.3 billion eggs in the UK each year.
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine
