This is a step in the right direction.

Lidl Ireland is about to become the first retailer in Ireland to introduce reusable fruit and vegetable bags across all 162 stores nationwide.

Available from September on, the reusable bags are designed to give customers a sustainable choice and reduce plastic use and waste in the long term.

The Green Bagswill be priced at 99c for two, offering an affordable, reusable alternative to single-use, small fruit and vegetable bags.

This move is one of many steps that Lidl is taking as part of its plastic reduction strategy.

The supermarket has introduced numerous additional loose options, bringing the overall loose lines to approximately 20% of the range.

In April, Lidl Ireland become the first Irish retailer to offer customers in-store recycling stations and last year, they also discontinued the sale of single-use plastic items including drinking straws, disposable plates, cups and cutlery, with plastic-stemmed cotton buds next on the list in the coming months.

The single-use plastic items are being replaced with biodegradable alternatives, saving 2.2 million straws and 1.6 million plastic plates and cups and 75.1 million individual cotton buds from Lidls 162 stores across Ireland annually.