Lidl discontinues single-use dishware: 27 tons less plastic in stores

Lidl Malta has decided to discontinue all single-use plastic crockery and cutlery and will replace them with “green” alternatives, completely biodegradable and compostable.

A tangible action reaping positive environmental effects: Lidl will remove about five million products (plates, cups and cutlery) from the market, corresponding to nearly 27 tons of plastic yearly.

The company wants to be at the frontline of the battle against single-use plastic, bringing forward the deadline of the EU regulation that will come into force by 2021 in all EU member states.

Lidl has taken a wider commitment on this topic which aims to reduce the use of plastic by 20% by 2025. “Discontinuing singleuse plastic from all our shelves will definitely leave a mark on our customers’ shopping habits. This will in turn positively influence behaviour and reap benefits for the environment. As a socially responsible company we feel that this action, within our assortment strategy is very meaningful. Our commitment to reduce plastic use by 20% by 2025 is a priority and we need to act now; hence the urgency in bringing forward the EU regulation deadline. Having started in June and finalizing in July, our customers will now find a ‘new generation’ of biodegradable and compostable crockery and cutlery that, once used and properly disposed, will turn into new resources,” said Lidl Malta Regional Director Mark Farrugia.

This new product line includes: dinner and soup plates, three different types of cups and cutlery all made from PLA, Mater-Bi (both biopolymers derived from corn starch) and cellulose pulp (obtained from the leftovers of fast-growing plants processing, especially sugar cane).

In order to achieve the goal to reduce the use of plastic by 20% by 2025, Lidl is implementing other practices such as the optimization of plastic wrap for its goods.