Lidl has become the first retailer in Ireland to announce the launch of Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP) fresh food packaging using 'ocean bound plastic'.
The discounter explained that essentially POP is plastic that would have otherwise ended up in the ocean and that is now recycled and reintroduced into Lidl's packaging.
Working in collaboration with its Irish supplier, Keohane Seafoods, Lidl noted that it has moved five fresh fish products into this innovative new packaging with products including: Salmon Darnes (two pack and four pack), Skinless Salmon Darnes, King Prawns and Cod Fillets.
Customers can see this new packaging in-store now with a full rollout expected to be completed by the end of July.
Innovative Packaging Initiative
This innovative packaging initiative forms part of Lidl’s overall commitment to ensure 50% of packaging is made from recycled materials by 2025.
Announcing the launch of the initiative Cáit Lynch, responsible sourcing manager, Lidl Ireland, commented, “As a responsible retailer, we want to assure our customers that by shopping with us they are selecting responsibly sourced products while also helping to protect our oceans.
"From removing plastic pollution to protecting fish stocks, we're committed to making a difference. We’re proud to be the first retailer in Ireland to introduce ocean bound plastic into the retail market, taking the lead in offering consumers more sustainable choices and helping to tackle the problem directly as part of our commitment to ensure 50% of packaging is made from recycled materials by 2025.”
Research Findings
Between 80 and 90% of the plastic packaging that reaches the ocean, enters from coastlines in developing regions such as Southeast Asia and this initiative will prevent almost 19 tonnes of plastic from entering the ocean per year – the equivalent of almost 750,000 plastic water bottles.
As well as having clear environmental benefits, the use of POP also has societal benefits.
The collection of these bottles equates to approximately a years’ worth (374 days) of well-paid work for an average bottle collector in predominantly poor coastal regions across Southeast Asia.
GGN Label
In another first, Lidl has said that it is set to become the first retailer in Ireland to carry products with the GGN label.
The retailer highlighted that the consumer label will feature on seven Keohane Seafoods fresh salmon lines.
The GGN label stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency, and offers consumers consistent and relevant assurance about the responsible farming of these products, it added.
All products bearing the label come from farms with production processes that are independently certified according to the strict criteria of GLOBALG.A.P. standards.
This confirms that they were produced in line with responsible farming practices that cover food safety, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, traceability, and workers’ well-being.
Anna Ferguson, Senior Buyer, Lidl Ireland, commented, “The addition of the GGN label onto these fresh fish products for the first time in Ireland is also an important step in offering enhanced product transparency to our customers.”
Lidl Supplier Engagement Programme
The packaging reduction, ocean bound plastic packaging solution and GNN certification have been developed as part of Lidl’s Supplier Engagement Programme which is now in its second year.Speaking on the importance of this innovative collaboration, Colman Keohane, managing director of Keohane Seafoods, added, "All our seafood is sourced from responsibly managed fisheries and farms.
"And with the support from the team at Lidl through our involvement in the Lidl Supplier Engagement Programme, we have been actively innovating to reduce the environmental impact of the range from reducing pack sizes to now launching ocean bound plastic packaging.
News by Reuters edited by Donna Ahern Checkout. For more Packaging stories click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
