We Educate About the Conscious Use of Plastics
We not only strive for sustainable and future-oriented developments and innovations, but also educate society about the responsible use of plastics.
A specific focus is on topics that affect every individual and can be easily implemented at home. One example of this is the correct separation and disposal of waste and – in particular, packaging. This is because the majority of recyclates, i.e. recycled plastic, comes from the households' collection of recyclable materials. Waste separation thus makes an important contribution to a functioning recycling and is of great relevance to resource and climate protection.
Our Separation Instructions at Kaufland and Lidl Provide Orientation for Correct Disposal
To make it easier for Kaufland and Lidl customers to separate packaging, we have developed our own separation instructions. To make these as comprehensible as possible, we conducted a representative survey in Germany to take a closer look at consumers' current separation behavior and their knowledge of it.
The findings: most respondents are aware of waste separation, at least in theory. However, the correct disposal of packaging consisting of several components is often not yet clear to them. A well-known example of this is the yogurt cup, which consist of a blank, cup and a sleeve made of paper. Separated from each other, all materials can be recycled very well, but if they are not separated, at least one valuable material is lost.
Our separation instructions are designed to give consumers clear guidance directly on the product and at the same time they can be adopted by as many of our national companies as possible.
Green Light for the Yellow Garbage Can - geTon
In a joint campaign of the Yellow Bin Initiative (geTon) with PreZero, Lidl and Kaufland, the Schwarz Group in Germany actively educated and informed people about recycling. The aim was to increase acceptance of the yellow garbage can and the yellow bag in a playful way: To this end, consumers across Germany learned about the importance of promoting recycling in Germany during an information tour in front of 20 Lidl and Kaufland stores. The aims of the initiative were to educate consumers about the importance of separating waste and the responsible use of plastic packaging and resources.
The educational campaign was extended through the hashtag #trenniert on social media. For this, PreZero provided valuable tips on Instagram for separating waste and the disposing of frequent misthrows or particularly problematic products and packaging.
Information Campaign on Waste Separation
Because waste often cannot be avoided, it is particularly important to separate and dispose of it correctly. This is the message of a “Mülltrennung wirkt" initiative of the Dual Systems in Germany that shows that waste separation works. Its aim is to educate citizens about the correct separation of waste. After all, recycling already begins in private households. The proportion of residual waste in the collection of recyclables (in Germany the yellow bag and the yellow garbage can) is still too high - and vice versa. Too much residual waste in the bins makes recycling more difficult or prevents it, which means that important materials are lost to the recyclable cycle. Recyclable materials that are mistakenly disposed of in the residual waste do not enter the recycling cycle in the first place.
The information and education campaign aims to reduce so-called misdirected waste. With the dual system PreZero Dual, we are also part of the initiative and our motto is: Waste is recyclable material in the wrong place.
Kaufland Germany's Environmental Campaign Days
Kaufland Germany has been organizing Environmental Action Days together with the Trenz Environmental Office and in close cooperation with the Association of German Nature Parks since 2004. The Environmental Action Days, which are part of Kaufland's educational program "Machen macht Schule" (Making Schools Work), give kindergartens, daycare centers and schools the opportunity to teach children and young people about plastics in a hands-on and playful way.
Since the first event in 2004, around 300,000 children have already been reached, and in 2020 the Environmental Action Days also took place in digital form for the first time. In 2021, around 150 events are planned again in Germany.
© Picture: Carolin Lauer
