Plastic bags to go at Lidl

Lidl is to stop selling single-use plastic bags from July next year in a step on from the government’s 5p levy.

The German discounter will permanently remove the bags from sale across all stores in England, Scotland and Wales from July 1 to save an estimated 63 million plastic bags annually - the equivalent of 772tonnes of plastic, it said.

It hopes the move will help to “strongly discourage consumers from a single use, throwaway mindset”.

Lidl UK commercial director Ryan McDonnell said: “Our pledge to stop selling single-use carrier bags is all about promoting a more environmentally friendly alternative.”