German retailer removes single-use products to combat plastic pollution
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Rewe will remove single-use plastic straws from the aisles of its supermarkets in order to help combat environmental pollution, the German retail chain announced on Wednesday.
The Cologne-based company estimated that the move across its 6,000 stores would lead to an annual reduction of around 42 million single-use plastic straws going to landfill.
The retail group includes the popular supermarket chains “Rewe” and “Penny”, as well as the “Toom” hardware stores in Germany.
Rewe is only one of several German retailers which have recently taken steps to address growing concerns over the environmental consequences of excessive plastic consumption.
Amongst others, the discounter Lidl will no longer stock single-use plastic products like cutlery and straws from 2020 onwards while rival Edeka is developing a returnable packaging system as an alternative to single-use.
According to the “Seas at Risk” group of non-governmental organizations (NGO), around 100,000 tons of plastic from the European Union (EU) end up in the bloc’s seas every year with devastating implications for marine ecosystems. In total, 46 billion single-use bottles and 36 billion straws are consumed annually in the EU only to be thrown away shortly thereafter.
The EU commission has set itself a goal to lower the amount of single-use waste in its seas by 30 percent until 2020 while the European Parliament is demanding for a more ambitious target of 50 percent until 2030.
In a widely-discussed proposal, EU budgetary commissioner Guenther Oettinger recently called for the introduction of a plastic tax as a means to lower consumer use and simultaneously improve the bloc’s finances following the departure of the United Kingdom.
Speaking to the German press agency on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the German ministry for the environment emphasized, however, that environmental pollution through single-use products was a problem that applied to plastic as well as other materials.
“We need to overcome a powerful throw-away culture”, the spokesperson said.
Questions & Answers
Q.What specific single-use plastic items is Rewe removing from its stores?
What specific single-use plastic items is Rewe removing from its stores?
Rewe will be removing single-use plastic straws from the aisles of its supermarkets. This move is part of the German retailer's efforts to combat environmental pollution and reduce plastic waste.
Q.How many Rewe stores will implement this change and what is the estimated impact?
How many Rewe stores will implement this change and what is the estimated impact?
The change will be implemented across Rewe's 6,000 stores, which include the Rewe and Penny supermarket chains, and Toom hardware stores. This is estimated to reduce annual landfill waste by around 42 million single-use plastic straws.
Q.Are other retailers in Germany taking similar steps to reduce plastic waste?
Are other retailers in Germany taking similar steps to reduce plastic waste?
Yes, other German retailers are also addressing plastic consumption concerns. Lidl will stop stocking single-use plastic products from 2020, while Edeka is developing a returnable packaging system.
Q.What does the German environment ministry say about tackling pollution from single-use products?
What does the German environment ministry say about tackling pollution from single-use products?
A spokesperson for the German ministry for the environment stated that pollution from single-use products applies to plastic and other materials. They emphasised the need to overcome a 'powerful throw-away culture'.