Tesco innovates with laser-etched avocados and cardboard trays

Tesco is pioneering an eco-friendly initiative to minimise plastic waste by etching product information directly onto avocado skin and testing recyclable cardboard trays. The retailer aims to eliminate nearly a million stickers and up to 25 million plastic trays annually from its avocado product lines.

By using Westfalia Fruit’s advanced technology, Tesco will replace barcode stickers on loose, extra-large avocados. This process involves a computer program guiding high-powered lasers to remove a small section of the avocado skin’s top layer, etching essential details such as fruit size or variety within a third of a second. This method has undergone extensive trials to ensure it does not affect the quality, shelf life, or taste of the avocados.

Lisa Gilbey, Tesco’s avocado buyer, expressed excitement about the innovation, highlighting its potential to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling practices. Concurrently, Tesco is testing cardboard trays for two of its popular avocado lines, potentially eliminating up to 25 million plastic trays if the trials are successful and widely implemented.

Around 270 Tesco stores in south-east England will participate in these trials, with plans to expand if consumer feedback is favourable. With almost 70 million avocados sold yearly and a 15% increase in demand last year, this initiative marks a significant step towards reducing plastic waste in the produce industry.

Moreover, Gamma Supplies Ltd has introduced a compostable and biodegradable paper-based label for fresh produce, designed to decompose at the same rate as food skins without leaving harmful residues, further contributing to sustainable packaging solutions.