Tesco Ireland has unveiled plans to roll out a new meat ‘pillow pack’, in order to reduce plastic waste, it was announced today.
The new, more sustainable packaging format will be used across its fresh minced-meat products.
The move follows a trial last year, wherein the retailer replaced its traditional plastic tray and film lid with a pillow pack on all 470g packs of Tesco Irish lean steak mince.
Following the success of the trial, the retailer is expanding the pillow pack to include its beef, lamb and pork minced meats.
There are more than 14 products that will now feature the new packaging.
The flow wrap alternative uses just under 70% less plastic than the previous packaging method.
Pillow packs are the opposite to vacuum packs, with the slightly inflated ‘pillow’ keeping the mince in perfect condition and preventing it from being compressed.
Customers can recycle the packaging or bring it to their local Tesco and place it in the front-of-store recycling units with other soft plastic.
‘Reducing All Unnecessary Packaging’
Speaking about the new packaging, the fresh-food category director of Tesco Ireland, John Brennan, said, “Pillow pack packaging uses 68% less plastic and guarantees the same high-quality appearance and, importantly, taste.
“Customers have grown used to these packs over recent months and can now expect to see this packaging on all mince products across our 175 stores.
“The plastic reduction element is significant and has the potential to save 76 tonnes of plastic each year.”
The updated packet is the latest innovation in Tesco’s ongoing commitment to ensure that it never uses more packaging than is necessary.
Tesco Ireland’s head of sustainability, Andy McGregor, said, “Where we need packaging because it serves a clear purpose, like reducing food waste or to protect a product in transit, we do our best to ensure that what we do use is from sustainable sources and, where possible, goes on to be reused or recycled.
“We are committed to reducing all unnecessary packaging, and by 2025, our packaging will be fully recyclable, and all paper and board used will be 100% sustainable.”
Tesco is one of Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) champions, as appointed by Minister Eamon Ryan.
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