Tesco turns the clock back in its bakery and customers are loving it!

Tesco stores are rewinding the clock back to the days of traditional bakeries by removing plastic from a number of its most popular items and selling loose loaves of bread.    

This will result in the annual removal of 33 million pieces of plastic from loaves of bread and doughnuts, and reduce the plastic used to pack breakfast pastries by over 120 tonnes each year.   

Nearly 25 of the supermarket’s in-store bakery bread lines are now being sold loose, although customers can request a paper bag should they need one. 

Doughnuts will now be sold in a fully recyclable paper bag with a glassine window.

And in a move that will dramatically cut the amount of plastic used, croissants and pain au chocolat will switch from plastic trays to a traditional recyclable paper bag with a small plastic window.

Both the pastries and doughnuts will be hand-packed in store into bags that are structurally strong with a flat base, to ensure they still get home in perfect condition.   

Tesco Group Quality Director Sarah Bradbury said: “Many of our customers remember the days when bakeries used much less plastic and we want to go further and faster in removing plastic whenever # alternatives are available."

She went on to add: “We’re thrilled we've been able to make this move across our in-store bakeries, as part of our plans to reduce plastic usage, but without compromising on freshness and quality.” 

Catherine David, Director Collaboration and Change of Climate Action NGO, WRAP said: “It’s great to learn about further moves by Tesco, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, to remove unnecessary packaging and tackle plastic waste.

“We must continue to go further, particularly to remove soft plastics like bags and wrappers which is too frequently used needlessly.

“Initiatives by Tesco like the removal of pointless plastic around multi-packs, while ensuring shoppers aren't short-changed, is a win-win for its customers and also for the environment. Let’s keep this momentum going.”

This move comes as part of Tesco’s 4Rs packaging strategy to tackle the impact of plastic waste. This means Tesco removes plastic where it can, reduces where it can't, looks at ways to reuse more and recycle what's left.