Supermarket is first in the UK to introduce reusable polyester bags for loose fruit and vegetables in a bid to cut down on single-use plastic
Lidl has begun rolling out reusable polyester bags for loose fruit and vegetables across its stores nationwide, claiming it is the first supermarket in the UK to offer customers a greener alternative to the disposable plastic bags typically used for loose items by most retailers.
The company announced yesterday that the 'Green Bags' would be priced at 69p and would give UK shoppers a choice between using thin single use plastic bags for their fruit and veg, or purchasing 100 per cent polyester, machine-washable, reusable bags.
The move forms part of the German-owned supermarket chain's efforts to reduce its use of single-use plastics, which include targets to cut plastic packaging by 20 per cent by 2022 and ensure 100 per cent of its own-brand packaging is widely recyclable, refillable, or renewable by 2025.
Lidl previously withdrew all single-use carrier bags from its UK supermarkets in 2017, which it said resulted in 26 million fewer plastic bags being sold annually. Since 2017, Lidl's overall efforts to remove, replace or reduce own-brand plastic packaging has resulted in an eight per cent reduction per store, it said.
"Ever since we opened our doors in Great Britain, 25 years ago, we have been strongly committed to finding ways to reduce our plastic waste," said Georgina Hall, head of CSR at Lidl GB. "We've made changes - big and small - over the years to help contribute to this. Today's announcement is the next step, and one which we hope will help customers shift to a truly reusable option."
Lidl is not the only food retailer to look at greener alternatives to plastic packaging. Rival supermarket Waitrose recently announced plans to expand its trial of unpackaged food items, which has seen shoppers in several of its shops fill their own reusable packaging with products to buy.
Meanwhile, the likes of Marks & Spencer and Iceland have also been trialling the means of cutting down on plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables
The reusable bags are priced at 69p each | Credit: Lidl