TESCO has announced it's to scrap soft plastic rings and shrink wrap packaging from all beers and ciders in its UK stores.

The store says it will lead to 50 million fewer pieces of un-recycled plastic being used each year.

It expects to sell through the last remaining stock in the coming weeks and will not order beers or ciders that use this packaging in the future.

Brands who sell to Tesco will now use materials for multi-packs such as cardboard sleeves, boxes, or a rigid plastic that can be easily recycled via kerbside collections.

Heineken has stopped using plastic rings in favour of a cardboard alternative called the ‘Green Grip’.