UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has announced it will be removing single-use plastic lids across its own-brand dip pots in 2023.

The company claims that the move will save 71 million pieces of plastic annually. From March 2023, household favourites such as guacamole, tzatziki and sour cream and chive dip will no longer be sold with single-use plastic lids.

This year’s Sainsbury’s Christmas range will also see the removal of single-use plastic lids. Sainsbury’s said that removing plastic lids from its own-brand brandy butter will help save on average 581,000 pieces of plastic this festive season.

The retailer has committed to halve its use of own brand plastic packaging by 2025. Since 2019 Sainsbury’s has removed single-use plastic lids from a range of products including cream, crème fraiche, custard, cottage cheese and sour cream. Earlier this year, Sainsbury’s also removed single-use plastic lids from all own-brand yoghurt.

The removal of the single-use plastic lids will save 71 million pieces of plastic each year in total, equating to 220 tonnes of plastic. For customers that would prefer to use a lid on products at home, Sainsbury’s has launched reusable lids, available to purchase across all superstores in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as online for £1.25.