Netto Marken-Discount tries to make the packaging of its own products more sustainable and steadily increases the proportion of optimized packaging in their assortment. From the beginning of the year, the grocer sells apples nationwide and sustainably with packaging that consists for 40 percent of sun-dried grass (FSC Mix Karton). In comparison with other raw materials, grass is a rapidly renewable natural product.
In addition, the new packaging solution has a lower water and energy consumption compared to cardboard shells made from virgin fibers. Netto is currently testing the packaging solution with grass content for other fruit products as well.
Sustainability at Netto
As part of its sustainable business alignment, Netto is working to continuously reduce its environmental footprint. Christina Stylianou, Head of Corporate Communications Netto Marken-Discount, emphasizes: "This also means steadily increasing the proportion of optimized packaging in our range of proprietary brands."
Since 2018, the grocer sells organic ginger with "natural branding": the labeling is applied by laser directly to the surface of the product, instead of using a plastic outer packaging or a sticker. This saves more than 43 tons of packaging per year. Since mid-2018, Netto has also been offering meat products with innovative FlatSkin packaging, which requires up to 60 percent less plastic than conventional packaging.
Sustainability as a trademark
Netto Marken-Discount has been offering a comprehensive reusable beverage selection for over 30 years and today has the largest beverage selection in reusable packaging; a proud pioneer in the discounter environment. Netto already offers half of its beverage selection in returnable containers to its customers nationwide - a total of around 2,000 different drinks.
The advantages of the reusable system are obvious: By returning the bottles to the Netto branches and having them refilled by the suppliers, plastic and glass bottles find their way back to the Netto shelves several times over. The fact that returnable bottles are the most sustainable packaging for drinks has been scientifically proven. The Recycling Research Group emphasizes the pioneering role of Netto's reusable assortment strategy in the discount segment.
