Lidl introduces reusable fabric bags for loose fruit & vegetables

In a bid to cut down on single-use plastic, Lidl claims to be the first supermarket in the UK to introduce reusable fruit & veg bags.

Lidl’s launch of greener alternative bags, ‘Green Bags’, are priced at 69p offering customers a reusable alternative to the single-use plastic bags currently used for loose fruit & veg in most other supermarkets across the UK.

Lidl UK’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Georgina Hall said, "Today’s announcement is the next step, and one which we hope will help customers shift to a truly reusable option."

The German discounter plans to reduce plastic waste by 20% by 2022. It remains strong on its commitments to combat single-use plastic and has made promises to ensure 100% of its own-brand packaging is widely recyclable, reusable, refillable or renewable by 2025.

“Ever since we opened our doors in Great Britain, 25 years ago, we have been strongly committed to finding ways to reduce our plastic waste,” Lidl UK, Georgina Hall.

In 2017, Lidl’s initiative to remove all single-use plastic carrier bags resulted in 26 million fewer bags being sold annually.

Other major UK supermarkets have also been trialling ways to cut down on single-use plastic. Waitrose has announced plans to expand its trial of unpackaged food items, while Morrison’s continues to offer traditional brown paper bags for loose fruit & veg, made from 100% recycled paper.

Photograph: Lidl