Lidl and Kaufland Cut Plastic Use by 36% in Private Labels

The world's fourth largest retail group just showed that big box stores can make a real dent in the plastic problem.

Lidl and Kaufland, both owned by Germany's Schwarz Group, slashed plastic use in their store-brand packaging by 36% by the end of 2025. That's across both the packaging you see on shelves and the materials used to transport products to stores.

The retailers didn't stop there. They also beat their goal of using 25% recycled content in plastic packaging, proving that setting ambitious targets actually works when companies commit to follow through.

The achievement came through the company's REset Plastic strategy, which focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic across their operations. Both grocery chains applied these principles to thousands of private-label products sold across Europe.

Private-label products are the store-brand items that sit alongside name brands on grocery shelves. Because retailers control every aspect of these products, they have more power to redesign packaging and choose sustainable materials.

The timing matters too. As consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly options, major retailers face growing pressure to tackle their environmental footprint. Plastic packaging represents one of the most visible and solvable parts of that challenge.

The Ripple Effect

When retail giants make changes like this, the impact extends far beyond their own shelves. Suppliers and manufacturers take notice, often updating their practices to meet new standards set by major buyers.

The success also sends a signal to other retailers worldwide. If the fourth largest retail group can exceed plastic reduction targets, smaller chains have a roadmap to follow.

European shoppers now have tangible proof that their purchasing choices and environmental concerns are reshaping how products reach them. Every reduced-plastic package represents a small victory in the larger fight against waste.

The numbers tell an encouraging story: millions of customers across Lidl and Kaufland stores are now buying everyday items with significantly less plastic and more recycled materials than just a few years ago.

When major companies prove that sustainability goals aren't just marketing promises, they create momentum for the entire industry to step up.