A budget supermarket is continuing its war on plastic with a trial hoped to cut thousands of single-use containers.

Lidl is introducing the UK’s first supermarket ‘smart’ laundry detergent refill station for a six-month trial in the West Midlands.

The pilot, taking place at their Kingswinford branch, is in partnership with Chilean sustainability start-up Algramo.

Since 2013, Algramo has been dedicated to helping Chilean families buy life’s essentials in reusable packaging and is now an international benchmark for circular economy.

Reading Chronicle: Lidl is trialling UK’s first supermarket ‘smart’ laundry detergent refill station. Picture: LidlLidl is trialling UK’s first supermarket ‘smart’ laundry detergent refill station. Picture: Lidl

Chris Baker, country manager at Algramo UK, said: “We are very happy to help Lidl customers make simple everyday actions more sustainable.

“During 2021, just in Chile, we managed to reuse more than 250,000 plastic bottles, that are still being used by consumers, keeping more than 30 tons of plastic in the economy and out of the environment.”

It is hoped the Lidl trial could prevent the use of as many as 2,970 single-use plastic containers over the six months.

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How Lidl laundry detergent refill station will work

Reading Chronicle: The refill bottles smart chip allows the automated machine to register and recognise the bottle. Picture: LidlThe refill bottles smart chip allows the automated machine to register and recognise the bottle. Picture: Lidl

Shoppers will be able to purchase a dedicated, 100 per cent recyclable refill bottle filled with a choice of four Lidl own brand laundry detergents for the same price as a standard single-use bottle.

After the refill bottle is purchased, any refills then come with a 20p saving – reducing customer spend as well as plastic, meaning customers will never pay more for a more sustainable choice.

The refill bottles have been specially designed with a UK-first smart chip, which allows the fully automated machine to register and recognise the bottle. Once the refill process is complete, shoppers can collect the ticket printed with the chosen product’s barcode and pay at the till with the weekly shop.

Mark Newbold, CSR manager at Lidl GB, said: “At Lidl, we believe you shouldn’t have to pay more for doing the right thing.

“It’s why we’re especially proud to be trialling this pioneering refill technology that not only helps customers reduce their plastic usage, but also their weekly shopping bill.”

Lidl refill station laundry detergents

Reading Chronicle: The Lidl refil machines will offer four laundry detergent options. Picture: LidlThe Lidl refil machines will offer four laundry detergent options. Picture: Lidl

The refill machine will offer four laundry detergents from Lidl’s Formil range. These are:

Formil Super Concentrated Bio, £1.69 (£1.49 for every refill)

Formil Super Concentrated Non-Bio, £1.69 (£1.49 for every refill)

Formil Super Concentrated Tropical Lily, £1.89 (£1.69 for every refill)

Formil Super Concentrated Honey Petals, £1.89 (£1.69 for every refill)

The trial builds on Lidl’s commitment to combatting plastic waste, which has already seen the removal of 1 billion pieces of plastic from stores, as well as the commitment to reduce its use of plastic packaging by 40 per cent by 2025.