UK retailer Tesco has announced that it will remove plastic trays from the packaging of its private-label fresh, whole chicken range.
Starting next year, the retailer will replace the tray and film from around 16 million own-brand medium, large and extra-large chickens with a single bag.
It will also reduce the overall weight of plastic used in the packaging of its whole fresh birds by 30%.
Tesco has successfully trialled the new packaging at its store in Bar Hill.
'Redesigning'
Quality director at Tesco, Sarah Bradbury, said, “We’re focused on removing any plastic which is unnecessary, reducing anything excessive, introducing reusable options, and making sure everything that’s left is recyclable.
“Our new chicken pack is a great example of how we are redesigning our packaging to use less plastic, and at the same time we have made it easier and safer for customers to use.”
The retailer added that the new packaging is more hygienic and makes it easier to transfer the bird into a roasting tray without having to touch the chicken.
This initiative is part of Tesco’s 4Rs strategy – Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – which will see the retailer remove non-recyclable and excess packaging, explore new opportunities to reuse its packaging, and ensure anything that is left is recycled as part of a closed-loop.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
