Tesco is trialling new ‘pillow pack’ packaging which uses 70% less plastic, on two of its mince lines: 500g Tesco Beef Lean Steak Mince 5% fat (£3.49) and Tesco Beef Mince 500g 20% fat (£2.49).
The retailer noted that the packaging was “the opposite” of vacuum packs, which attracted complaints from some customers about the mince’s appearance when Sainsbury’s introduced them.
The slightly inflated ‘pillow’ used by Tesco is said to keep the mince in perfect condition and prevents it from being compressed.
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, increasing availability.
The new packaging is recyclable in front of store recycling units with their other soft plastic.
If customer feedback is positive, Tesco plans to roll out the packaging to more stores and product lines.
“As well as looking for great value when they shop, customers want to see less plastic packaging in their trolleys. Pillow packs are a win-win: they keep the mince in perfect condition while requiring much less plastic,” said Dom Morrey, Tesco Commercial Director for Fresh.
“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.”
Tesco’s 4Rs packaging strategy aims to remove plastic where it can, reduce where it can’t, reuse more and recycle what’s left. To date, Tesco has removed around 2.2 billion pieces of plastic from its UK business.
