Yoghurt now comes with a reusable lid

In future, the Edeka Group will be dispensing with the usual plastic lids for many of its private label dairy products in 500-gram pots. As an alternative, Edeka and Netto Marken-Discount are the first retailers to offer reusable fresh-covers. In this way, more than 300 tons of plastic can be saved every year, it is said.

The packaging of private label dairy products such as yoghurt or skyr in bulk packs (500 grams) usually consists of plastic pots, sealing film (“plastic wrap”) and a plastic lid. With the lid, the consumer can reseal the product and store it in the refrigerator for a few days. After that, the lid usually goes into the trash – but that’s over now: Edeka and Netto Marken-Discount are now offering the first “topless” large-sized pots. To keep the products fresh despite this, the retailers have developed a reusable lid made from silicone. Once purchased, it can be reused many times over at home and thus scores well in the life cycle assessment by comparison with the conventional disposable solution generally used so far.

Edeka is starting with this at the beginning of November. From then on eight private label articles will be delivered in 500-gram pots without plastic lids. Netto Marken-Discount has already put several 500g yoghurt and pudding pots without plastic lids on its shelves. The matching reusable freshness lids for resealing and multiple use will also be available in packs of two from November.

The Edeka Group explains that it is pursuing a holistic approach: the basic principle is to avoid packaging consumption wherever possible. If avoidance is not possible, Edeka applies the principle of “reusable instead of disposable”. In addition, the use of recycled raw materials is being promoted.

There is a growing number of refrigerated products without the plastic lid that has been customary up to now. The Swiss dairy operator Biedermann, for example, has found an alternative for beverages such as Lassi.