SCOTLAND – Lidl has initiated a bottle return initiative across all its supermarkets in Glasgow, heralding a move poised to catalyze the recycling of 10.5 tonnes of plastic and aluminium per month through the deployment of in-store reverse vending machines.
This rollout spans all 21 of its Glasgow stores initially, with the potential for further expansion. Customers partaking in the program will receive a 5p reward for each eligible item they return, which can be redeemed against their purchases or contributed to Lidl’s longstanding charity partner, The STV Children’s Appeal, a collaboration in place since 2011.
There exists no limitation on the quantity of items that can be returned, and Lidl will accept qualifying bottles and cans procured from any retailer, provided they are clean and uncrushed.
This launch comes in the wake of the Scottish Government’s postponement of the introduction of its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) from its originally slated debut on August 16, 2023.
Lidl aspires that its in-house initiative will empower shoppers to leverage the infrastructure already established by the discounter.
Lidl GB’s Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Bourns, articulated, “We’re on a mission to eliminate all unnecessary waste, and with over 95% of our own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable, or refillable, we’ve been making great progress.
“We know that Lidl shoppers share this passion, and we hope that utilizing this infrastructure, which might otherwise have been left dormant, will help to make recycling their cans and bottles even more convenient for them. With our extra incentive thrown in, and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.”
In contrast to DRS, Lidl’s bottle return program does not entail a deposit on the retail price of the original product.
The machines are designed to accept single-use drinks packaging crafted from either PET or aluminium, ranging in size from 100ml to 3L, and feature a scannable barcode at the point of donation.
However, dairy items such as HDPE plastic milk or yogurt drinks, Tetra-packs, paper-based cartons, glass, and pouches do not qualify for return.
New bottling plant in Derby
In a parallel development, Lidl GB has inaugurated a new bottling plant in Derby, UK, generating approximately 90 jobs.
This facility will bottle water and produce a diverse array of soft drinks, boasting a production capacity of 380 million bottles annually.
The plant, dubbed MEG Derby Ltd, falls under the auspices of Schwarz Produktion, the umbrella brand of the Schwarz Group’s production entities.
MEG, a premier mineral water and soft drink manufacturer in Germany, marks its inaugural foray into Great Britain.
Localizing production is anticipated to streamline transport logistics, substantially curtail the distance products travel to stores, thereby ameliorating Lidl’s carbon footprint and reducing costs.
Richard Bourns, Lidl GB’s Chief Commercial Officer, remarked, “This new venture with MEG Derby Ltd. marks a significant milestone in our commitment to improving efficiency, reducing our impact on the environment, and providing our customers with great quality products at the lowest possible prices.”
Jörg Aldenkott, CEO at Schwarz Produktion, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The inauguration of MEG Derby Ltd. represents a pivotal moment for Schwarz Produktion. As our first venture in Great Britain, it underscores our commitment to sustainable growth and will allow us to serve Lidl stores across Great Britain.”
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