Tesco has entered a trial with a selection of leading toothpaste brands in a bid to remove unnecessary packaging.
Partnering with brands such as Colgate, Oral B, Sensodyne, Aquafresh and Corsadyl, the UK’s biggest supermarket is looking to scrap the cardboard box that toothpaste products are usually packaged and sold in.
The trial which started on 21 September in almost 30 of its stores across the UK will test how shoppers feel purchasing branded toothpaste sold in loose tubes without an outer cardboard box.
As a result of removing un-needed packaging, Tesco hopes to save 680 tonnes of cardboard per year.
The trial comes following the leading retailer’s move to get rid of boxes used for its own-brand toothpaste last year, which is set to save over 55 tonnes of cardboard each year.
“We made a bold move to remove un-needed toothpaste boxes last November on our own brand and have had positive feedback from customers. Now we are working with the major toothpaste brands to join us on this journey,” Tesco oral care buyer, Felicity Bexton said.
“Not only is there an opportunity to remove this needless packaging, but it also means being able to transport more tubes in the same amount of space, helping us take delivery lorries off the road too.
“We think that for customers the move makes sense, because the first thing they do when they buy toothpaste is throw the packaging box away.”
2 Comments. Leave new
The cdu that the tubes are in must amount to more cardboard than the 12 packets it replaces. This is greenwashing nonsense.
I agree. Anyone who works in retail will tell you how much extra packaging in the delivery to the shop will be needed. As for taking “lorries off the road” that makes no sense either. The stock still arrives in the same cages.