Home-recyclable paper packaging has been introduced for Tesco’s luxury dried pasta range, with the retailer hoping to save over 10 million pieces of plastic a year.
The change applies to 500g bags of orzo, casarecce, orecchiette, spaghetti bucatini, linguine, rigatoni, fusilli, gigli, conchiegli, and penne rigate in the Tesco Finest range, and will be available in Tesco Express convenience stores.
The company explains that the bags are 100% recyclable and compatible with household recycling bins. More than 30 tons of plastic are set to be removed from Tesco’s annual operations with this transition.
“Removing unnecessary plastic is an important way that Tesco can reduce its environmental impact,” said Claire Lorains, Group Sustainability and Quality director at Tesco. “The new paper packaging works just as well as the old plastic but can be popped into your normal recycling bin with other paper.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far to reduce the plastic we use at Tesco but will continue to look for ways to do more.”
According to Tesco, its 4Rs strategy – Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – has removed 2.3 billion pieces of plastic from its UK business since its introduction in 2019.
Its other paper-based developments include the reveal of a kerbside recyclable tray and linerless lid solution for Zespri’s kiwi packaging in a bid to cut down on plastic flow wrap; and the retailer trialling a paper-based tub for Nestlé’s Quality Street brand, which comes after a transition into paper twist wrap for the individual chocolates.
However, Tesco and Sainsbury’s recently came under fire for replacing the rigid lids on their own-brand houmous pots with thin, peelable sheets of plastic. While the supermarkets intend to save 50 million pieces of plastic every year, consumers argue that the change leads to faster spoilage, increased spillages, and more food waste overall.
Other popular food brands are also transitioning into paper packaging, including Laîta’s Paysan Breton pancakes, repackaged in collaboration with Walki; and, with help from EvoPak, Walkers Chocolates’ Turkish Delight and Mint Cream chocolate flavours.
Source- Packaging Europe, 2024.
15th November 2024.
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