Recyclable cardboard packs to replace plastic laundry pod tubs – saving 252 tonnes of plastic per year
Tesco is set to replace the plastic tubs used to package its own-brand laundry detergent pods with new recyclable cardboard boxes.
The UK’s largest supermarket says the switch will save 252 tonnes of plastic per year, removing over four million pieces of plastic across eight lines.
The new boxes contain more than 90% recycled cardboard, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and can be put in the normal household recycle bin when empty.
A thin plastic liner will be placed inside the boxes to protect the pods.
The switch comes as part of Tesco’s 4Rs packaging strategy, launched by the retailer in August 2019 to help tackle the impact of plastic waste by:
- Removing plastic where it can
- Reducing plastic where it can’t be removed
- Looking at ways to Reuse more plastic
- Recycling what’s left
Since the strategy’s launch, Tesco says it has removed 1.8bn pieces of plastic and reduced its packaging footprint by more than 10,000 tonnes.
Tesco Group Quality Director Sarah Bradbury said: “Customers are focused on getting great value right now, but we know that they still want to choose products that use less or no plastic in their packaging.
“This is one of many changes we’re making to reduce unnecessary plastic from products right across our stores.”
Image courtesy of Tesco.
