Tesco has backed calls for the government to place a ban on plastic packaging for fruit and veg, arguing it would create a “level playing field”.
The ban, which is already enforced in other countries such as France and Spain, has been proposed by the government’s environmental advisers Wrap in a bid to tackle the country’s growing plastic crisis.
Wrap has urged for the government to implement new regulations, warning that Plastic Pact may face missing its target of 30% of fruit and veg being sold loose by 2025 – a goal already cut back from the initial aim of 80%.
A Tesco spokesperson told The Grocer the supermarket would embrace “effective government intervention on produce packaging removal.”
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“This should start with products we think are most achievable – for example where multiple retailers share the same supplier.
“Government intervention will ensure change is made at scale and create a level playing field, where packaging changes will not put any one retailer at a competitive disadvantage,” added a Tesco spokesperson.
The UK’s largest retailer’s announcement makes it the first supermarket giant to openly advocate for the new plastic restrictions.
Although no other UK supermarket has publicly addressed calls for the restrictions, critics’ concerns about the new regulation include the risk of product damage, such as bruising and pests, that could lead to food waste.
