Lidl Set To Scrap Black Plastic From Fruit And Vegetables

Even though many of us are making small changes to our lives to try and reduce the amount of plastic we use - even if that does just mean re-using your carrier bags - it can be a bit disheartening to see many big businesses not following suit.

However, Lidl looks to be leading the way as it's set to become the first supermarket in the UK to scrap all black plastic from its fruit and vegetables.

On a post on its Facebook page, the cheap-as-chips supermarket wrote that it will be bringing in the new rule this month. Impressive stuff.

Facebook

Ryan McDonnell, Lidl's commercial board director, said: "This significant move away from black plastic demonstrates our dedication to tackling this important topic. We recognise the current challenge that black plastic presents to the recycling industry, which is why we have made it our priority to remove it from our fresh ranges.

"As part of our commitment to achieving our ambitious targets, we are continually exploring opportunities to cut our packaging, and where packaging is necessary to protect food and minimise food waste, we will ensure that it is reusable, refillable or recyclable."

Alongside this, Lidl has vowed to reduce plastic on its own brand products by 20 percent by the year 2022. And by 2025 promises to have 100 percent recyclable or reusable/refillable packaging on its own products while also increasing the recycled content of own brand packaging to 50 percent.

Earlier this year, supermarket Iceland announced it would be eliminating all plastic packaging on its own-branded products by 2023.

PA

Iceland managing director Richard Walker said in a statement: "Making this change is going to cost money but we are determined that our customers will not have to foot the bill.

"Obviously we hope that more people will choose to shop at Iceland as a result of our decision, but we're not trying to steal a march on our competitors.

"We genuinely hope that they will follow our example - and soon - and we are happy to collaborate with them to make this a reality."

It's good to see some of the big names making a step in the right direction.

Topics: UK News, Interesting, trash isles

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19