“Lidl GB has announced a series of new initiatives as part of its REset Plastic strategy, which sets out to eliminate the supermarket’s plastic waste.
It has confirmed plans to replace all single use fruit and vegetable plastic bags with compostable bags. This in-store change will result in the removal of 275 tonnes of conventional single use plastic, the supermarket says.
It says the compostable bags are designed to be re-used as caddy liners for domestic food waste collections and are also suitable for home-composting.
As well as the new compostable bags, Lidl is also launching a trial plastic bag and wrapping recycling scheme across 12 stores in the West Midlands, with a plan to expand the scheme nationwide if successful.
The trial, which is due to be rolled out next month, will enable customers to return ‘soft plastic’ packaging easily that is not collected from homes by more than 80% of UK local authorities in the UK.
These items, from any brand or retailer, include carrier bags, biscuit wrappers, crisp packets, bread bags, pet food pouches, plus much more. Compostable bags should be used for food waste and not placed in these collection points.
Customers will be able to return their soft plastic packaging at easily accessible drop-off points at the front of store. Lidl will then ensure that all eligible soft plastics will be recycled into products, such as refuse sacks and rigid construction products.
Christian Härtnagel, CEO 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 recycle their plastic packaging.”
Helen Bird, Strategic Technical Manager, WRAP, said: “While we need to reduce single use packaging where possible, where it’s not, packaging must be recyclable and that’s what members of The UK Plastics Pact have pledged to do by 2025.
View the whole story here: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/lidl-gb-launches-compostable-fruit-and-veg-bags-amid-plastic-packaging-trial/