Tesco has revealed it will remove the plastic wrapping from its multipack tins as part of a pledge to cut down on waste.

The grocery chain said by doing so it will remove 350 tonnes of plastic a year from the environment. Tesco will also be working with several food brands to help reduce plastic waste from its multipacks.

The effort will be the first of its kind by any major UK retailer, according to the BBC.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “We are removing all unnecessary and non-recyclable plastic from Tesco.” 

“While we know we have more to do, this initiative is good news for the environment,” said Georgiana de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz in northern Europe.

Greenpeace UK ocean plastics campaigner Fiona Nicholls said: “It’s great that Tesco is getting rid of multipack plastic packaging that’s completely pointless, and is also pressuring its branded suppliers like Heinz and Branston to do the same.

“This is such an easy, common-sense first step that all supermarkets should have done this long ago. We urge retailers to end the nonsense of double-plastic packaging on all products straight away and be bolder by introducing reusable and refillable packaging.”

The changes will come in to effect from March 2.