Lidl will create a ‘circular programme’ of packaging as part of wide-ranging plastic and waste reduction measures.
The German discounter revealed it is considering creating a Deposit Return Scheme, where customers can return their plastic rubbish to the store, aiming to drive demand for recycled materials and reuse systems.
The move is part of a wider commitment to reduce plastic packaging 20 per cent by 2022, with 100 per cent of its own-brand packaging to be recyclable by 2025. They will also ditch all 5p plastic bags, replaced with reusable bags by the end of the year.
The “circular programme” echoes comments by Tesco chief Dave Lewis at the City Food Lecture last week that Britain’s largest retailer were looking into creating a “closed loop” of packaging, by introducing recycling facilities in their car parks.
Christian Härtnagel, the CEO of Lidl UK said: “We’re proud of our clear, ambitious targets for the reduction of plastic waste. We have looked at plastic packaging in the context of our wider sustainability commitments and strongly believe that our circular approach will deliver a long-term solution.”
“We want to create a major shift in the way that packaging and plastics are used, to ensure that these resources are recovered and retained, eradicating plastic waste and moving us towards a truly circular system in the long term. We know our business and the wider industry needs to take big steps to achieve this; that's why we have set clear and ambitious targets, not only to ensure that our packaging is completely recyclable, but that we are driving demand for this material by driving recycled content.”
Lidl’s plastic strategy is in line with fellow retailer schemes to cut plastic waste, stating their plan will remove 67 million bags and 134 tonnes of plastic each year.
They will also partner waste and efficiency advocacy group WRAP in their upcoming UK Plastic Pact, a cross-sector initiative to reduce plastic use in Britain.
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