Lidl-Ireland is to Discard Single-Use Plastics in its Stores

Plastic drinking straws, plastic packaging, disposable cups and any other single-use plastic will be absent from all Lidl stores across Ireland in 2019. Lidl UK has taken steps to remove all black plastics and packaging from its fruits and vegetables selection at the end of September, promising to do this across all 195 stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland before Christmas.

The packaging will be scrapped from fresh fish products by February 2019, followed by fresh meat, poultry and cured meat ranges before August.

It also plans to replace black plastic from fresh meat, fish and poultry products by August next year. The single-use plastic items are being replaced with biodegradable alternatives here in Ireland.

As sustainability is the core to Lidl’s operations and business, the eradication of single-use plastic in its stores is a huge win for the environment, but not a surprising move to many. With more talks of environmental conservation in the public, many companies worldwide are under pressure to produce sustainable options and switch to ways that would stand to profit, but also appeal to the masses. Lidl is no exception to the pressures faced, but they listened and responded to the queries heard a thousand times over by implementing lasting changes that benefits both the store and its customers.

Part of the ambitious measures is Lidl’s introduction of its new range of unpackaged fruit and vegetables, which will bring their loose lines to about 25% of the range. These significant steps are the first to a series of bolder steps in the future. Lidl is committed to “reducing plastic packaging volumes by a fifth by 2022” (thejournal.ie) and aims to make its packaging 100% recyclable, reusable, renewable or strictly made using recyclable materials by 2025.

In the phasing out process of non-recyclable packaging, Lidl is also moving towards removing single-use plastic items including straws, disposable tableware (plates, cups and cutlery) and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in the months to come.

Now that Lidl are doing their part, will you do yours? Before you leave will you sign this petition to introduce a deposit refund system for Ireland? https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/introduce-a-deposit-refund-system-for-drinks-containers-now

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