Lidl to scrap 5p plastic bags

Its 5p bags will be phased out by the end of 2018, with customers required to buy 9p bags for life if they need something to carry their shopping in.

A bag for life is made of stronger plastic and lasts significantly longer than a regular plastic bag and are replaced for free if broken.

Lidl estimates the move will reduce its plastic consumption by 134 tonnes – that's 67 million bags – each year.

A host of other supermarkets have already scrapped 5p plastic bags, including Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco.

See our blog for more on environmentally friendly MoneySaving.

What else is Lidl doing?

The supermarket has vowed to slash its overall plastic use by 20% by 2022 and increase the amount of recycled material used in their own-brand products by 50% by 2025.

Last year, Lidl removed all products containing microbeads and replaced plastic-stemmed cotton buds with biodegradable alternatives.

Lidl UK chief executive Christian Härtnagel said the firm is proud of its "clear, ambitious targets" for the reduction of plastic waste.