Lidl to replace all single use fruit and vegetable plastic bags with compostable alternatives
Lidl GB is to replace all single use fruit and vegetable plastic bags in its stores with compostable alternatives as part of its plastic reduction and recycling programme.
The move will result in the removal of 275 tonnes of conventional single use plastic.
Lidl said the new bags have been designed to be re-used as caddy liners for domestic food waste collections to give them a longer life and will also be suitable for home composting.
The retailer is also launching a trial plastic bag and wrapping recycling scheme across 12 stores in the West Midlands next month. If successful, it will be extended nationwide.
The initiative will enable customers to return soft plastic packaging that is currently not collected from homes by more than 80% of UK local authorities. The items can be from any brand or retailer and will include carrier bags, biscuit wrappers, crisp packets, bread bags, pet food pouches and more.
Customers will be able to return their soft plastic packaging at accessible drop-off points at the front of Lidl stores. The retailer will then ensure that all eligible soft plastics will be recycled into products such as refuse sacks and rigid construction products.
Christian Härtnagel, chief executive at Lidl GB, said: “At Lidl GB we are committed to tackling excessive plastic waste and our compostable fruit and vegetable bags are the latest innovation to help limit the amount of plastic in our environment.
“As a bricks-and-mortar retailer, how we operate in our stores, and the packaging we use, plays such a vital role in helping customers to tackle their plastic consumption. By offering convenient solutions such as compostable bags and making it easier for customers to recycle more plastic through our in-store drop off points, we are hoping to give customers the opportunity to take small steps to reduce and recycling their plastic packaging.”
The new initiatives build on Lidl’s plastic commitments to make 100% of own brand packaging widely recyclable, reusable or refillable by 2025.
