Starting 2019, Lidl Denmark will replace disposable plastic products with compostable and recyclable materials, according to a press release.
The initiative will begin with four SKUs, including beverage cups, plates, cutlery and cotton swabs.
The environment-friendly variants will be introduced in all 114 retail outlets in the country.
Customers will instead be offered cardboard cups, wooden cutlery and cotton swabs with cardboard sticks.
According to Dirk Fust, adm. managing director of Lidl Denmark, switching to these four eco-friendly SKUs will cut plastic usage annually by more than 30 tonnes.
Purchasing director at Lidl, Miko Forsström has called the initiative "the best solution for the environment" and added that, "With a continuous phasing out of disposable plastics, our customers can continue to purchase disposable products in Lidl without increasing the plastic consumption, while avoiding sending products for incineration."
Lidl Denmark's Future Goals
The retail giant aims to replace all fruit and vegatable bags with eco-friendly alternatives by 2022.
It has also set a target of cutting down consumption of plastic packaging by 20% and using recyclable and reusable materials for all of its plastic packaging by 2025.
Battle Against Plastic Pollution
Previously, Lidl phased out plastic straws and cut down plastic usage in coffee capsule and nut packaging.
It was also the first grocery chain in Denmark to introduce paper carrier bags in 2018, resulting in a 15 tonne reduction in plastic consumption by the retail giant.
"As part of our plastic strategy, we follow a process that is based on a circular approach and the use of sustainable materials. By phasing out disposable plastic products from the product range, we reduce the consumption of plastic and thereby improve our environmental impact", Fust added.
Earlier this month, Lidl Switzerland announced of a similar initiative aimed at phasing out disposable plastic products by 2019.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
