Marks & Spencer is set to introduce plastic-free aisles after testing a new greengrocer shopping concept in its Tolworth store.

The retailer is launching more than 90 lines of loose fruit and vegetables free of all plastic packaging in a trial which will involve trained greengrocers on hand to help customers. Greengrocers will offer customers help to pick and weigh their products and advise on how best to preserve fresh produce and prevent food waste at home as M&S has removed "best before" date labels as part of the trial. The range includes hard fruit and vegetables like potatoes and bananas but also more perishable items such as soft fruits and berries, which will be sold in compostable punnets.

M&S said it has also committed to launching additional lines of loose produce, replacing plastic produce bags with paper ones and phasing out plastic barcode stickers in favour of eco-friendly alternatives in every one of its UK stores in an effort to save 580 tonnes of waste over two years. If it is successful it will be rolled out more widely across the UK.

press release: M&S trialling plastic-free aisles in push to save the environment