Tesco makes 'dramatic change' to the way it sells avocados to cut back on plastic use

The swap aims to "help the environment" and cut back on plastic use. It has not been made a permanent fixture though: the laser etchings will just be a trial.

If rolled out across all stores, the move, made jointly with the UK’s main avocado supplier, Westfalia Fruit, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, could save nearly a million plastic stickers on its loose extra large avocados.

Tesco explained: "The high-powered lasers remove a minute section of the top layer of avocado skin, etching size information on the fruit as directed by a computer program.

"In a third of a second the process essentially leaves a tattoo that shows information for customers and cashiers, including the size or variety of the fruit."

At the same time, Tesco has announced it will trial replacing the plastic tray packaging for two of its most popular avocado lines and moving to a cardboard container that is simpler to recycle.

If rolled out Tesco-wide, more than 20 million pieces of plastic tray packaging could be saved from the twin-pack avocado alone, and up to 25 million pieces across the pre-packed range.

The change is set to affect a lot of shoppers, with the supermarket selling nearly 70 million avocados a year.

Tesco avocado buyer Lisa Gilbey commented on the planet-conscious innovations. She said: "We’re always looking for innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of our products, and cut down on plastic waste in the home through changes to our packaging.

"We’re really excited to hear customer feedback on our new laser-etched avocados, avoiding the need for a barcode sticker that can easily be forgotten and left on when recycling through household food waste."

Westfalia Fruit - who are behind the new laser-etching technology - conducted extensive trials to ensure the quality, shelf life and taste of the fruit is not affected.

Westfalia Fruit general manager Graham Isaac said: "Westfalia Fruit continually seeks ways to improve our environmental performance and operate in a responsible manner, by focusing on priorities such as reducing and wherever possible, removing plastic from our packaging to contribute to solving the plastic waste challenge.

"We are confident that, with a clear focus and united effort as an industry, we will be able to significantly reduce our waste, use natural resources responsibly and protect the environment and biodiversity for all our futures."

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The trials will take place in around 270 Tesco stores in south-east England and if feedback from customers is positive, will be rolled out across the Tesco estate.

This comes as Aldi changes the packaging on a household cleaning product in all UK stores to cut back on waste.

Shoppers will find the change in Aldi's standard Magnum washing-up liquid and its Antibacterial and one-litre Magnum Classic versions.

In other supermarket news, Aldi just launched a new alcoholic beverage that promises "vibrant" flavours and the "finest" botanicals.