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The topic of plastic is an incredibly important one, and we recognise the key role that our business plays in tackling the detrimental impact that it is having on our oceans. If we don’t act, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish*, which is why we are one of the first retailers in the UK committing to incorporating Prevented Ocean Plastic in our own-label fresh fish ranges and breaded chicken ranges.
By working collaboratively with our fresh fish and breaded chicken suppliers, as well as industry-leading packaging manufacturers and material distributors, we have been working diligently to achieve great products, packed in materials which prevent plastics entering our oceans. With our lead suppliers alone, by incorporating this Prevented Ocean Plastic into our packaging, we are preventing more than 4 million water bottles from entering the marine environment.
*Source: The New Plastics Economy, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
80-90% of plastic that ends up in the ocean originates from developing countries*. The Prevented Ocean Plastic incorporated into our packaging is sourced from countries and regions which may lack waste management infrastructure or collection incentives, or where that infrastructure is simply overwhelmed by population growth and tourism.
Discarded water bottles, found within a 50km (30 miles) distance of an ocean coastline or major waterway that feeds into the ocean, are collected, sorted and processed to the highest standard, before they can be incorporated into our fresh fish packaging. The entire process is fully traceable, with a robust documented chain of custody.
*Source: World Economic Forum 2019
Lidl, through its parent company, Schwarz, was the first retail and technical partner for Project STOP (Stop Ocean Plastic). The mission of Project STOP is to design, implement and scale circular economy solutions to marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia, one of the most problematic areas in the world for marine pollution. We are providing technical advice to local communities in Indonesia to help develop efficient waste management systems.
