According to EP data, over 150 million tonnes of plastic waste is found in the world's oceans and threatens the planet's ecosystems and biodiversity. As an FMCG, we are aware of our responsibility towards society and the environment and strive for efficient consumption of resources. This incl. and the use of plastic. Our goals by 2025 under our REset Plastic strategy are to reduce our plastic consumption by 20%, to make 100% of our private label product packaging as recyclable as possible, and to contain an average of 25% recycled material. To achieve our vision of "less plastic - closed life cycle" we implement a number of measures in 5 areas of activity: REduce, REdesign, REcycle, REmove, Research. shorturl.at/jkQ45

Direct/indirect beneficiaries: employees, customers, business partners and local communities. Lidl Bulgaria regularly and transparently shares information on the topic with these and other interested groups by publishing news in internal and external channels, its own website, newsletters, letters, meetings, through its own brand product labels, reports its progress in its Sustainable Development Report and organizes communication campaigns and initiatives aimed at the general public.

REset Plastic was launched in 2018 by the Schwarz Group. As part of the Group - Lidl sets its first goals also in 2018. In Lidl's CSR strategy, the topic falls into the focus area "Resource conservation". Over the years, the company has implemented numerous measures to reduce plastic by redesigning the packaging of its own brand products, increasing their recyclability and adding recyclate. In addition, since 2013, Lidl Bulgaria has organized cleaning actions and information campaigns.

Except operational activities, in 2022 Lidl organized 2 joint river cleaning actions with employees, volunteers and NGO partners. "Give Balkanka a chance" is the company's longest-standing environmental initiative that aims to protect biological diversity in Bulgarian rivers and specifically one of the most endangered species in Europe - the Balkan trout. The event includes stocking and cleaning the riverbeds. In 9 years, 30 rivers were stocked with over 390,000 trout and ~35 km of riverside areas were cleaned. During the international action "Together for cleaner rivers", 3,000 employees and volunteers from various divisions of the Schwarz Group in 9 countries collected more than 20 tons of plastic waste along the Danube River, more than 1 ton of which near the city of Ruse. In order to prevent plastic waste, an event for the local community with informational activities on the subject for adults and children was also organized within the campaign. In additon, the company has financed for 5 years under its program "You and Lidl for a better life" in "Environment" 24 civil projects with a total value of BGN 196,719. A large part of them aimed precisely at the problem with plastic.

Thanks to the operational measures that Lidl Bulgaria applies in relation to plastic reduction in the past year, the company reports maximum recyclability for 64% of the packaging of its own brand products, has reduced the use of plastic in them by 8% and uses an average of 14% recyclate in their production. moving closer to their stated goals. All improvements in packaging are transparently communicated through logos and information on the packaging itself ("Packaged responsibly" logo, "No microplastics in the composition", "Global Recycled Standard", etc.), allowing customers to make informed and sustainable choices in your daily life. In addition, through cleaning actions and communication mechanisms, the company contributes to a more conscious consumption.