The REWE Group has published its first guidelines for environmentally friendlier packaging. In it, the Group is committed to optimizing all private label packaging and service packaging at REWE, PENNY and toom Baumarkt by the end of 2030, with regard to their environmental friendliness. To date, more than 1,000 articles have been revised. With the changes already implemented, REWE and PENNY are currently saving around 7,000 tons of plastic each year. As a pioneer in the industry, the REWE Group achieved the biggest effect by discontinuing the plastic bags in all markets from 2016 onwards.
Sustainability strategy
"As a pioneer in the field of resource conservation, the holistic consideration of the supply chain is a central starting point for our sustainability strategy," said Lionel Souque, CEO of REWE Group. "The REWE Group has been working for years to improve the environment-friendly design and increasing recyclability of packaging, working closely with our suppliers and all stakeholders along the entire value chain to use processes, processes and packaging materials that conserve resources and meet modern quality and logistics requirements to meet the diverse customer needs. Now, we are well on track with the savings already made and the actions and goals defined in our strategic guidelines."
Fruits and vegetables, meat, noodles, carrier bags, detergents, cleaning agents, kitchen towels or toilet paper: the REWE Group used a product-specific analysis to identify packaging groups for relevant plastic savings and further optimization. The goal: To avoid, reduce and improve packaging materials with regard to environmental friendliness. The criteria resulting from the strategic approach, on consultants from NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland) e.V. have also worked intensively, are binding for all suppliers of the REWE Group regarding the design of environmentally friendlier packaging. All this is also consistently being reviewed.
Reduction of plastic consumption
By promoting reusable alternatives, reducing packaging materials, using recyclable plastics, promoting alternative raw materials and secondary raw materials and switching to 100 percent certified paper packaging, the REWE Group aims to continuously reduce the environmental impact of its packaging and promote the circular economy of all materials used.
Natural Branding
The examples in the fruit and vegetable sector range from "natural branding" (laser logos) to the use of "grass paper" to the conversion from film packaging to adhesive tape and adhesive labels. Added to this are the reduction of film thicknesses in breakfast and garbage bags, packaging of kitchen towels and toilet paper, as well as the use of recyclate in carrier bags and plastic bottles for detergents and cleaning agents. The salad bowls available in REWE supermarkets will in future be produced nationwide from better recyclable polypropylene. The consistent discontinuation of disposable plastic crockery and plastic straws in all REWE Group markets will take place by 2020.
