Tesco is trailing fresh mince ‘pillow’ packaging that uses 70% less plastic than traditional tray/top wrap packs.
The new packaging is recyclable and customers can put it into the front of store recycling units with their other soft plastic. While the new packs still contain the same amount of mince as the old ones, the packaging is smaller in size, meaning fewer lorries are needed to transport them, and stores can fit more on shelves.
Pillow packs offer a solution to the recent difficulties experienced by Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Lidl, which recently introduced vacuum packs to reduce plastic in their packaging. Customers have been vocal in their dissatisfaction with the new packaging, claiming the pressure of the vacuum ‘destroys’ the beef when opened.
Tesco’s slightly inflated ‘pillow’ approach keeps the mince fresh and prevents it from being compressed at all.
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The move is part of the Tesco’s 4R packaging strategy that aims to remove plastic where it can, reduce where it can’t, reuse more and recycle what’s left.
Tesco commercial director for fresh Dom Morrey said “removing or reducing unnecessary plastic is an important way that Tesco can reduce its environmental impact”.
“We’re proud of what we have done so far but continue to look for ways to do more,” he added.
So far, Tesco has removed 2.2 billion pieces of plastic from its UK business, including 200+ million bags from online deliveries and 50 million pieces of plastic wrapping from cans of branded beers and ciders.
