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REWE Saves 40 Million Paper Bags a Year
The path to reusability: REWE Lieferservice (delivery service) is now using reusable bags to deliver its products. Having already been tested in a number of model regions, they are now to be rolled out nationwide.
Five packs of milk, two kilograms of potatoes, three packs of yogurt, three cans of tomato paste, two packs of diapers, and some fresh fruit: the delivery service brings the goods in three paper bags.
In future, REWE would no longer use disposable bags for its delivery service, explained Clemens Bauer, Head of E-Commerce, at EHI Connect, the conference for digital and networked retail, in Düsseldorf. Instead, reusable bags will be in circulation. This is one of various measures with which the REWE delivery service aims to become more sustainable. “We are constantly working on new ideas on how we can further improve our offering for the benefit of consumers and the environment. And we test what works in the market. This is an essential part of REWE's DNA, which is once again evident in the roll-out.“
Less Water
In order to determine the sustainability potential and optimization possibilities of reusable bags, their life cycle was analyzed by an independent institute. The result showed that the reusable bag system offers significant advantages over the paper bag system in terms of water consumption, as the reusable system requires 62 percent less water.
Raising customer awareness plays an important role in the success of the new offer. The useful life of the reusable bag is of central importance when it comes to sustainability. In order to keep it high, customers should be made aware of how important it is to make use of the options on offer. In concrete terms, this means that the more often a reusable bag can be used, the better its carbon footprint.
The change in packaging could save 40 million paper bags per year. A total of 16 food fulfillment centers are taking part in the roll-out. This is a great achievement, as the integration of comprehensive innovations into complex processes always involves a great deal of effort.
REWE Expects a Signal Effect
The REWE delivery service also hopes that this will send out a signal: “If the market leader opts for such a solution, it will be of great significance and relevance,” says Bauer. The reusable bag is just the beginning of a long journey. In close cooperation with independent external experts, REWE delivery service is currently developing a roadmap with further concrete measures for even more sustainability.
With a turnover of 30.6 billion euros (2023), more than 170,000 employees and 3,800 stores nationwide, REWE Markt GmbH is one of the leading companies in the German food retail sector. The REWE and nahkauf stores are operated as branches or by independent retailers. The cooperative REWE Group is one of the leading retail and tourism groups in Germany and Europe. In 2023, the company achieved a total external turnover of over 92 billion euros. Founded in 1927, REWE Group has around 390,000 employees and is present in 21 European countries.
