Lidl kids veg range

Lidl is to remove black plastic from its fruit & veg lines in a move it says will prevent 50 tonnes going to landfill each year.

The non-recyclable plastic will be removed from products including mushrooms, baby sweetcorn, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower and will be completed this month, Lidl said.

The discounter has also pledged to remove black plastic from its fresh meat, fish and poultry ranges by August 2019.

The move follows a pledge by Lidl in March this year to reduce own brand plastic packaging by 20% by 2022. 

Earlier this week Iceland said it was on course to have eliminated 2,000 tonnes of plastic packaging annually by early 2019, while Asda today announced it had slashed 3,100 tonnes since February.

Read more: Aldi makes 2022 plastics pledge for own-label products

A Lidl spokeswoman said the supermarket was testing and trialling more loose fruit & veg across its fresh produce range, including removing packaging from onions, cabbages and lettuces.

“This significant move away from black plastic demonstrates our dedication to tackling this important topic,” said Lidl’s commercial board director Ryan McDonnell.

“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.”