In realising our circular economy strategy for REWE and PENNY in Germany as well as toom Baumarkt DIY stores, we rely on the three principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
We drive innovative solutions and standardisation for the circular economy and packaging with our own initiatives and partners, such as NABU, the GS1 standard development network, the Recyclate-Initiative, the Holy Grail 2.0 Initiative, and the global Consumer Goods Forum industry network.
We offer organic fruit and vegetables unpackaged or with improved packaging.
We save on packaging materials, dispense with packaging components (such as plastic lids) and rely on reusable solutions.
We are increasing the average recyclate content in packaging in various product ranges – for example in drinks (see Successes), drugstores and paint buckets at toom Baumarkt DIY stores.
At REWE in Germany we are testing refill stations for dry goods from REWE Bio, such as rice, pasta, and cereals. Our cooperation partner is the start-up MIWA. This system closes two reusable cycles: loose products are already delivered in large reusable containers, which can be refilled again and again by our suppliers after use; in addition, customers can fill the desired amount of product into the reusable containers available in the store or use their own containers for this purpose.
Reusable needs politics
In order to implement tangible changes to the circular economy across all sectors, we support political plans for the promotion of reusable alternatives – if the necessary conditions are created. To this end, we have drawn up a position paper with NABU and organised an expert dialogue with representatives from civil society, business, administration and politics.
In the packaging area, the focus is on reusable and unpackaged products.
PET in the cycle
50%
In 2023, we set up our first closed material cycle for disposable drinks bottles with partners. This will help us to achieve our recyclate targets. We have achieved our objective of using an average of 50 per cent recyclate content in our disposable PET beverage bottles by the end of 2023.
REWE and Lekkerland are the first food retailers in Germany to establish an open, scalable system for reusable to-go packaging. It utilises the existing take-back structures in the stores via the returning-machines. This “Einfach Mehrweg“ (simply reusable) system was awarded the Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) and the “ECR Sustainability Award” in 2023.
360000
PENNY in Germany, is the only food retailer nationwide to use reusable instead of disposable crates for the “Bio-Helden” (organic heroes) bananas and is also testing flowers in reusable buckets regionally. At toom Baumarkt DIY store, we are increasingly using reusable instead of disposable plant pallets. Our goal for 2023 is to further expand this system to 360,000 reusable pallets (2022: 60,000).
Since April 2020, REWE has been selling organic fruit and vegetables nationwide largely without plastic or with improved packaging. REWE Group in Austria has been steadily converting its organic fruit and vegetable range to unpackaged and loose or more environmentally friendly packaging since 2019. We also continuously review the use of raw materials and our product and process design in order to save material and close loops.
In 2021, we reached our objective of using 20 per cent less plastic in private label packaging compared to 2015 ahead of schedule. In 2023, we were at -22 per cent1 (2022: -26 per cent).
We were the first food retailer in Germany to discontinue our leaflet advertising (see also focus topic Sustainable Consumption).
