As the first company in the German food retail sector, the plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable department will be abolished by the end of 2020. Instead, customers find washable reusable nets or recycled paper bags as sustainable alternatives.
In several steps, real allows customers to shop without plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable department. As a first step, customers will be offered reusable nets as an alternative to plastic bags from the end of February 2019. Over time, plastic bags will gradually disappear from the fruit and vegetable department, so that by the end of 2020 customers will have the choice between washable reusable nets or free recycled paper bags, just like at a weekly market. "By completely dispensing with plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable department, we save 70 million plastic bags per year. That's equivalent to more than 140 tons of plastic," says Patrick Müller-Sarmiento, CEO of real.
Gradual conversion
In a test run in several real markets in the summer of 2018, the reusable nets were tested for their practical suitability. The durable reusable nets with drawstrings are made of sturdy polyester and are particularly convenient for transport. Dirty nets can be cleaned at 30 degrees in the washing machine. In the event that a web should tear, it can be recycled. The nets will be available for € 0.79 apiece. Of course, customers will still find a free alternative during the gradual conversion from plastic bags to reusable nets.
"Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role for our customers in the food retail sector," says Patrick Müller-Sarmiento. "People do not just want to eat good anymore, they also want to do it with a clear conscience. As part of our corporate strategy, acting by responsibility, we are constantly working to offer even better and more sustainable products. Our goal is to have only sustainable products by 2030. "
Further sustainability initiatives
In addition to the introduction of reusable nets, real is also pursuing other activities and projects to reduce or avoid packaging waste and plastic waste. For example, since last year, customers have been able to shop at the service counters for meat, sausage and cheese with their own returnable containers.
In order to be able to implement the system, each market has to individually coordinate the topic with the respective competent food control. After the start in autumn 2018, about two-thirds of the real markets currently have the corresponding release, the other markets are still in the voting process. Real also offers its customers reusable solutions for on-the-go coffee.
Multiple packaging alternatives
In the area of product packaging, real is also working on new, resource-saving solutions. New transport solutions make it possible, for example, to dispense with the film for organic cucumbers. Other packaging alternatives, such as grass paper trays, are already in use with organic limes and organic vine tomatoes. For organic zucchini and the new TiP organic bananas, the plastic packaging has been replaced by a single band, and bio-ginger, organic sweet potatoes and organic mangoes are now using real laser labeling to produce the organic product to differentiate from the products of conventional cultivation. For other products, real is exploring the possibility of using alternative packaging.
Already since 2017, the disposable plastic carrying case has been abolished. At checkouts, customers can choose between cotton carry cases, sturdy durable carry cases with a lifetime warranty or paper bags or recycled FSC certified paper boxes. This step alone saves 940 tonnes of plastic per year.
