British supermarket chain Tesco has launched a trial that aims to eliminate unnecessary toothpaste packaging in the UK.
Launched on 21 September, the trial involves major toothpaste brands such as Colgate, Oral B, Sensodyne, Aquafresh and Corsadyl.
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Cardboard box-free toothpaste is currently being sold at nearly 30 Tesco stores across the UK, with plans to roll this out across other Tesco stores.
The trial is expected to eliminate 680t of cardboard a year.
Through it, Tesco aims to understand customers’ feelings about removing cardboard boxes from branded toothpaste.
Tesco Oral Care buyer Felicity Bexton said: “We made a bold move to remove un-needed toothpaste boxes last November on our own brand and have had positive feedback from customers.
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By GlobalData“Now we are working with the major toothpaste brands to join us on this journey.
“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!”
The move to reduce unnecessary toothpaste packaging is part of Tesco’s wider Remove, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle (4Rs) packaging strategy, which was launched in August 2019 to address the packaging waste crisis.
In November last year, the retailer removed cardboard boxes from its own-brand toothpaste, a move expected to save more than 55t of cardboard a year.
Earlier this year, Tesco announced a trial of plant-based protection technology that aims to extend the shelf life of fruits and minimise food and packaging waste.
The Apeel packaging is designed to seal the moisture in and keep oxygen out to preserve product freshness.
