Albert Heijn is to stop selling desalinated sea water because of widespread criticism of the product.

Litter collector Dirk Groot, aka the ‘Zwerfinator’, had taken to social media to denounce the packaging of SEA Water, which he said was not returnable and is difficult to recycle.

He also questioned the product itself, saying ‘packaged water is never sustainable’ and if people want to drink water they can use the tap in their kitchens.

Albert Heijn, which had only started selling the some weeks ago, said in a reaction that the makers of the product had been spoken to.

The packaging states consumers are buying ‘planet saving water’. That, makers Jort and Tammo Wildschut told Trouw, refers to the fact they are using solar power to desalinate the water.

The packaging is ‘not perfect’, they said in a reaction. ‘We will keep improving it.’ About the product they said the will continue to ‘believe that there is a better way to consume local water if normal drinking water is not available.’

It is not known when SEA Water, which retailed for 89 cents per 500ml, will return to AH shelves.