Lidl to trial removing 9p reusable plastic bags from stores

The retailer has already removed all 5p plastic bags from all of its stores nationwide, and now wants to remove its 9p reusable bags, as it says they are increasingly being bought for single use.

And the supermarket chain says if the trial is successful, it could be rolled out across Great Britain, potentially saving approximately 2,500 tonnes of plastic annually.

The supermarket will introduce new cotton and jute alternative bags into its range this summer, and will still offer customers in Wales its 38p heavy duty bag and 65p freezer bag.

How much waste will the move cut?

Lidl says the move will prevent the sale of more than five million bags, and save over 150 tonnes of plastic waste each year in Wales.

This will increase to more than 80 million bags if extended across Great Britain.

What does Lidl say?

Christian Härtnagel, chief executive of Lidl GB, said: "We're proud of our work at Lidl to reduce plastic across our stores, and particularly the steps we have taken over the years to reduce sales of plastic carrier bags.

"After seeing that our 9p reusable bag was increasingly being used as a single use option, we wanted to look at how we could mitigate this pattern. Through this trial, we will be able to fully assess the impact that removing our 9p plastic bags has in helping customers shift to a fully reusable option."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Wales was the first nation in the UK to bring in a charge on single use carrier bags and we are pleased that Lidl has chosen Wales as the location for an initiative which will help inform understanding of consumer behaviour and bag use.

"We will watch with close interest the effect of Lidl's innovation and how this will encourage reuse."