Lidl has unveiled plans to roll out a new traffic light labelling system in key categories for sustainability across its 105 Scottish stores from September.
As one of the UK’s first retailers to launch the trial, Lidl will apply "Eco-Score" labelling to over 50 of its own-label products including teas, coffees and hot chocolate as well as supporting this with wider communication in its stores.
Eco-Score uses open-source data to independently grade products on their sustainability credentials and assigns a colour code ranging from green A - low impact - to red E - high impact.
Lidl said the new labelling system "will give shoppers a better understanding of the environmental consequences".
To grade a product, Eco-Score independently assesses various factors including production methods, impact on biodiversity, packaging and carbon footprint.
Products also receive better scores where they are certified to third party schemes such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance and Lidl plans to use the scheme to promote its commitment to sourcing 100% of its key raw materials, such as tea, coffee and cocoa from certified sustainable sources.
Amali Bunter, head of responsible sourcing and ethical trade at Lidl, said: “Rolling out the Eco-Score trial in Scotland is a huge milestone for Lidl, one we’re extremely proud of.
“We know that shoppers want more support in understanding the environmental impact of the products they buy day-to-day and Eco-Score will do just that.
“The trial will help customers in our 105 Scottish stores road test the new traffic light system and ultimately make greener shopping choices in the process.”
Over the course of the trial, Lidl will take feedback from its customers on the new labelling system before deciding how to progress with the scheme. Lidl will also share the findings from the pilot to help shape an approach that works for customers and the industry in the long term.
Lidl said the Eco-Score project comes on the back of the retailer deploying a series of sustainability initiatives including the installation of Deposit Return Scheme facilities across its Scotland stores this year.
Staff and materials shortages impede recovery
UK companies have flagged staff shortages and supply-chain issues as key constraints on activity, in a survey showing expansion this month is the slowest in the current run of growth which began in March.
Claire Taylor: Why dump wool when it can help us fight climate change?
Opinion: We should be singing from the rooftops about the huge potential Scottish wool offers to our nation’s green recovery.
If you have been forwarded this article and would like to sign up, or view our new range of newsletters, click below:
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here