Tesco has made a big change that will affect shoppers who place online orders for deliveries or click and collect.
From April 19, the supermarket giant will no longer provide non-essential plastic bags or tray liners for those orders, with customers being told to have their own bags ready at their doorstep.
Tesco, based in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, had brought back carrier bags for all online orders as part of its staff and customer safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Announcing they would no longer be provided, the company told shoppers it is committed to reducing plastic consumption, adding: "We know how concerned many of you are about plastic."
Tray liners and non-essential plastic bags will no longer be an option when customers checkout online, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Supermarkets have seen an online shopping boom during the pandemic, as vulnerable and elderly Britons shield at home, people self-isolate and others choose not to venture into stores for various reasons.
Tesco said delivery drivers will still bring shopping inside for customers who are vulnerable, disabled or elderly, but they will not enter homes where people are self-isolating.
An email to shoppers stated: "From 19 April, we’re removing tray liners and non-essential plastic bags from all online orders.
"If you place your order before 19 April for delivery after that date, you’ll still receive tray liners if you’ve asked for them.
As a response to COVID‐19 and to ensure the safety of our customers and colleagues, we reintroduced carrier bags for all online orders.
"However, we know how concerned many of you are about plastic – and we’re aware we have an important role to play in reducing plastic consumption."
The email added: "This means there’ll no longer be an option at the checkout to have your shopping packed in plastic bags or tray liners.
"Your groceries will instead be placed directly into our trays.
For health and safety reasons, we'll continue to use red plastic bags for meat, fish and some household cleaning products.
"You can also be assured that we’ll continue to work hard to keep trays and other delivery equipment hygienic."
Shoppers have been asked to have their own bags ready when the driver arrives.
Tesco wrote: "If your order is being delivered, we recommend having your own bags ready to pack into.
"If you’ve not got these at the door, don’t worry – there’s always time to grab them.
"If you’re vulnerable, disabled or elderly, your driver can still bring your shopping inside, but they won’t be able to enter your home if you’re currently self‐isolating."
The supermarket giant added: "If you’re collecting your order, the process may vary slightly depending on the store.
"When you arrive at your chosen collection point, please stay in your car.
"One of our colleagues will then come to greet you and let you know how you’ll get your shopping.
"We recommend having bags or boxes ready in your car to unpack your shopping into.
"If you have any special requirements, you can let us know ahead of your order by filling in the delivery notes box when you check out."
@nabob @Pinkaholic79 💖🦄🌺 @andym.aat @Janet 💋🍰🍝🍹 @Flotson @renatew5😺🐶 @harryflatters @homebaker @roz @margaret.s @Paul - MenCanCleanToo @Tanith @Flossy 🧁🧁🧁 and any one else who maybe interested
Well @Tanith if you think about it it's what you do if you go to the shop in fact you use more effort, you put stuff in trolley, out at till into bags into trolley into boot out of boot into house into cupboards.
So, let me get this right. The Driver puts a 'box' at your door. You then put all the items into bags. You carry your bags from your door to where they will be needed. You then unpack your bags and put the items away. Seems like a lot of extra work.
I've always requested no bags anyway. I have a couple of plastic boxes (drawers that I kept from broken plastic chests of drawers) and I just bung them on the doorstep. Sometimes the driver puts my groceries in them and sometimes I have to do it myself. I've used my own bags instead of supermarket single use for something like twenty years now. I don't see the point of having pile of plastic bags in the house. It's inevitable that you get a few, usually from butchers so well done Tesco.
I had email from tesco explaining this and don't think it should cause a problem. Like @Happygirl we've never had driver in our home they put trays outside door and hubby carries them in. I think it delivery might take longer because of transferring from trays to bags but it's not going to be a problem for us.😊
We never use plastic bags. We always have our own bags at the ready when a delivery is due. The drivers just deposit the trays on the floor near our front door, step back and wait while we pack the bags, then bring the next tray forwardsd. It works very well and all the drivers have been lovely and friendly - we even gave job advice to a lady who was considering applying for a job as 'Quay Ranger' at Reedham! In season, they have a little hut on our Quay and help the 'boaters' with mooring etc.
I haven't used a plastic bag for a very long time, I bought my own reusable ones over 10 years ago from Tesco, but started using them when we moved here so that's 10 years now and still use them [@Happygirl]
we have never had them come into our home at all with Asda, all the delivery people have been super towards us and waiting most of the time for us to check our goods, except for at Christmas when they were really busy. We also tipped them at Christmas Too for all of their help as i bet they are just on low or standard pay and i think they do a FANTASTIC job.
At the moment Asda are still doing carrier bags and that suits us as we re use them for the cat litter trays. We pay 40 pence for as many carrier bags as we need.