Schwarz Group, the multinational retail group behind Lidl and Kaufland, has committed to using 30% less plastic in its private label packaging by 2030.
Over the course of the last year, Lidl and Kaufland have both reduced their plastic usage for private label packaging by 28% in all 32 countries in which they operate. An average of 17% material is currently being used in plastic private label packaging for the two operations.
In Germany, Lidl has achieved 56% recyclability for its private label packaging so far, and Kaufland has achieved 51%.
Schwarz Group has attributed this to an overhaul of its packaging design that involves a transition into mono-materials for a large portion of its private label packaging for reuse in the same material flow. Meanwhile, the Group continues to work closely with the environmental service provider PreZero to keep increasing its use of recycled materials.
Packaging Europe reports the measures being taken contribute towards the joint group-wide Reset Plastic strategy which had the original goal of using 20% less plastic across countries by 2025. This has already been surpassed and replaced with the targets for 30% less plastic in its private label packaging across divisions by 2025 and 35% less by 2027.
Talking the publication through its sustainability strategy, Michael Janzer, director of corporate social responsibility purchasing international at Lidl, said: “We understand ourselves as drivers of sustainable packaging solutions. We believe this will lead to certain market developments. Nonetheless, an industry-wide standardised approach is required to generate impact.
“The EU Commission’s proposal for the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a major and important step on Europe’s path to a sustainable circular economy. As part o the Schwarz Group, we support the EU’s goal formulated therein of making all packaging reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030.”
Legislation in action at SiLC 2023
With all manner of legislative changes coming over the hill this year and beyond, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference will host a special session with Products of Change Ambassadors, James George and Mike Swain as they delve into the need-to-know details surrounding it all.
The session will take place as part of jam-packed SiLC agenda that can be viewed here. Tickets are still available for either in-person or online only attendance. The Sustainability in Licensing Conference will take place on Wednesday, 8 November at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
