Unwrapping houmous in a new film

The move has caused a mild storm, with one UK tabloid claiming "shoppers fear a supermarket's 'eco-friendliness' has gone too far".

A Tesco spokesman said: "We have recently removed the lids on our houmous pots as part of our ongoing efforts to tackle plastic waste. This latest change will remove more than 31 million pieces of plastic—equivalent to 157 tonnes of plastic a year."

The swap from hard plastic lids to film may, therefore, seem like a clear win for the environment. But some shoppers have other matters to consider.

For example, removing the hard lid may not suit those who prefer to reseal the pot after opening. It's a balancing act between reducing plastic waste and making customer-friendly packaging.

Tesco's figures show that lidding film clearly reduces plastic use. However, consumer behaviour also plays a significant role.

Expert advice

The solution may be as simple as consumers using a reusable lid. There’s also the option of buying one-serving “snacker pots” of houmous, which have been in a tray and lidding film format for some time. Either would allow them to reduce waste while retaining convenience.

It's worth noting that the expert advice is houmous should usually be consumed within two days of opening and by the "use by" date. Consuming houmous after the expiration date can be risky due to bacterial growth.

The debate around this packaging change reflects wider conversations about how we all can "do our bit" for the planet. Perhaps how we should accept trade-offs whether that's through supporting packaging changes or rethinking how we store and consume our food.

In this case, the shift to lidding film may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. But it does reduce plastic waste and, with a little adjustment, can still meet all consumer needs. That would appear to be the best outcome for supermarkets and consumers alike.