Morrisons is set to remove the plastic packaging from its bananas in a “no-brainer” move to save 180 tonnes of plastic per year.
In what is reportedly a first for a UK supermarket, the bags will be replaced with a “sturdy” paper band.
It comes after experts revealed that fears of Covid-19 infection had caused sales of unpackaged fruit and vegetables to drop.
However, Morrisons claims that a “successful” 12-week trial of the paper bands saved over two million plastic bags from landfill.
READ MORE: Morrisons boss targeted by anti-vax conspiracists
While bananas are the retailer’s second-most popular item, the changes are believed to apply only to those bought in-store rather than online.
“Bananas have their own packaging – their skins,” Morrisons buying manager Elio Biondo said.
“They also grow in bunches which generally means they don’t need bagging together… a simple sturdy paper band is the ideal alternative.”
The initiative, due to come in within six months, is part of the grocer’s commitment to halving its own-brand plastic packaging by 2025.
In January, Morrisons was ranked second-last in Greenpeace’s league of supermarket plastic packaging, behind all of its Big 4 rivals.
The environmental group criticised the retailer’s increased plastic use and plastic bag consumption.
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