// Lidl GB commits to a diverse range of ambitious new goals to reduce plastic waste
// Targets include a 40% reduction in own-label plastic packaging by 2025
// There is also a commitment to reduce the total amount of own-label packaging by 25% by 2025
Lidl has announced ambitious new targets in plastic and packaging reduction as part of its strategy to eliminate plastic waste despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.
Among the targets includes commitment to reducing own-label plastic packaging, targeting a 40 per cent reduction by 2025 across the German grocer’s British business.
The retailer has also committed to reducing the total amount of own-label packaging by 25 per cent by 2025.
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Lidl said it was also track to meet its 20 per cent plastic reduction target two years ahead of schedule, having reduced own-label plastic use by 18 per cent since 2017.
“Our unique business model allows us to adapt and innovate at pace and we are proud of the progress we have made to date in tackling excessive plastic use,” Lidl GB chief commercial officer Ryan McDonnell said.
“Protecting the environment is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we know there is more to do.
“This is why we have significantly expanded our targets to help accelerate the impact we are having on cutting plastics, and we’re proud to be working collaboratively with our suppliers to find solutions.”
Other targets in Lidl’s plastic reduction strategt includes doubling the number of refillable and reusable packaging solutions available in stores by 2021, and working collaboratively with branded suppliers to align its plastic reduction goals with their strategies and reserving the right to delist branded products that do not meet those targets.
By 2025, Lidl hopes 100 per cent of its own-label and branded packaging would be recyclable, reusable, refillable or renewable, and committed to 90 per cent of this being complete by 2023.
The discounter said that to date, it has achieved 80 per cent.
Also by 2025, Lidl hopes 50 per cent of its own-label packaging would be made of recycled content.
To-date, 30 per cent of Lidl’s own label products contain recycled content.
Meanwhile in recent months, the grocery chain has started removing lids from pots of creams and yoghurts, as well as lightweighting the packaging for its beef, lamb, poultry and milk packaging, saving nearly 400 tonnes of plastic per year.
By the end of this year Lidl said it would have eliminated problematic plastic packaging, including black plastic, PVC and EPS, from its own label core food range.
As part of this goal Lidl said it has already removed over 1500 tonnes of unrecyclable black plastic from its shelves.
The retailer said it would also ensure that by January next year, 100 per cent of pulp and fibre-based own-label packaging in its core food range will be either responsibly sourced or made using recycled content.
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