Clear caps to permanently replace green caps on all semi-skimmed milk in bid to improve recycling rates
Lidl is to permanently replace the green caps used for its semi-skimmed milk range with clear caps, it has been announced.
The move – made in partnership with their milk supplier Müller – follows a successful four-week trial and will see the clear tops roll out across all Lidl stores from November.
The discount retailer – set to soon replace Morrisons as the UK’s fifth-largest supermarket – has made the change in a bid to further improve the recyclability of its products.
Rival discount retailer Aldi – who also partner with Müller for their milk supply – is also trialling the use of clear milk bottle caps.
Unlike the bottles themselves, milk caps that contain a colour pigment can not be easily recycled back into food-grade packaging.
By switching to clear caps, Lidl say they will enable 60 tonnes per year of recycled high-density polythene (HDPE) to be recycled, as the colour-less material can be turned into milk bottles – keeping the material within a circular system.
Lidl’s senior buying director Scott Davey said: “We remain committed to supporting our customers in helping them make more sustainable shopping decisions on a daily basis. Customer feedback during the trial was overwhelmingly positive and we are thrilled to be making this change permanent across Lidl stores.
“In addition, this move will help us achieve our goal of making more of the plastic we use circular and fit to be repurposed time and time again.”
Image courtesy of Lidl.
