// Tesco removes over 20 million pieces of single-use plastic from its Christmas range
// The retailer has taken the initiative in an effort to reduce plastic pollution
// Tesco said its own-label crackers were plastic-free for the first time
Tesco has scrapped over 20 million pieces of single-use plastic from its Christmas range – including crackers, lights, cards and the packaging for puddings.
The retailer has taken the initiative in an effort to reduce plastic pollution.
Tesco said its own-label crackers were plastic-free for the first time, cutting more than 14 million pieces from the seasonal range, while a layer of plastic had been removed from packaging on Christmas puddings and sponges, saving 1.78 million pieces of plastic.
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The retailer has also removed eliminated glitter from all its single-use products and packaging, making its wrapping paper, gift bags, cards and crackers recyclable.
“It is an absolute priority of ours to remove and reduce the amount of plastic in our stores to the minimum and ensure everything we use is recycled and kept out of the environment,” Tesco quality director Sarah Bradbury said.
“Christmas time is no exception and we want to do our bit to help customers have more sustainable celebrations.”
Greenpeace UK plastics campaigner Nina Schrank said: “This is great news from Tesco, and it’s an important commitment given the damage we all know that glitter and throwaway plastic is doing to our marine environment.
“Now we want to see Tesco go even further and show even greater ambition, by setting market-leading targets for reuse and refill systems both in store and online across as much of their range as possible.”
Asda recently launched its first sustainable Christmas range – which it says will save 66 tonnes of plastic this year – while Morrisons has removed glitter from all of its own-brand ranges including cards, crackers, wrapping paper, present bags, flowers, plants and wreaths.
John Lewis and Waitrose have also stopped selling Christmas crackers containing plastic toys and puzzles.
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