The Schwarz Group is conducting an interim review and is increasing its recyclate objective to 25 percent

The Schwarz Group is reviewing the objectives and progress of its group-wide plastics strategy REset Plastic. The reason for this is the Global Commitment 2021 Progress Report which was published today by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose initiative the Schwarz Group joined back in 2018.

The interim review shows: The corporate group is making great strides towards its ambitious objectives. Numerous sustainable optimization measures have contributed to an average of 13 percent less plastic being used in the private label packaging of the Lidl and Kaufland retail divisions across all countries – for example, by omitting disposable plastic lids from 500 g yoghurt cups or using recyclable stickers instead of poly bags in the fruit and vegetable section. Already today, 38 percent of all fruit and vegetable items at Lidl and 57 percent at Kaufland are unpackaged.

However, the Group is not only reducing the use of plastic wherever possible, but is also increasing its focus on promoting the circular economy and the associated use of recyclate.

Milestones in Recycled Material Use of the Schwarz Group To-Date

• Currently, 10 percent recyclate is already used in all private label plastic packaging in the Schwarz Group across all countries – at Lidl Germany it is 19 percent, at Kaufland Germany 16 percent (as of: fiscal year 2020).
• Since June 2021, all the disposable own-brand PET bottles of Lidl and Kaufland in Germany produced by Schwarz Production are made of 100 percent* recycled plastic (rPET).
• In cooperation with PreZero, Lidl and Kaufland offer their customers own-brand household goods on special offer that are made from 100 percent** recyclate – an offer that the corporate group will further expand in the future.

The Schwarz Group is thus a pioneer in the field of circular economy and shows how recyclable materials can be recycled in the best possible way and how the need for new plastic can be reduced.

Increase of the Recycled Material Objectives to 25 Percent

Against this background, the Schwarz Group is now going one step further and increasing its recycled material objectives: By 2025, the corporate group objectives to use an average of 25 percent recyclate in the private label packaging of its Lidl and Kaufland retail divisions.

The interim review demonstrates that the Schwarz Group is steadily driving forward its vision of “Less Plastic - Closed Loops” and is focusing on a responsible approach to plastic, from production and retail to waste disposal and recycling.

* excluding lid and label
** Plastic content (approx. 95 percent) of the product is 100 percent recycled plastic, additional use of additives and color (approx. 5 percent).

Further Information

For further information on the plastics strategy REset Plastic, see
https://reset-plastic.com/en.