Supermarket giant Lidl UK has pledged to donate a minimum of £1m in proceeds from its single-use carrier bag charges to two charities.
The cash will be split equally over a 12-month period between Keep Britain Tidy and the children and young people's cancer support charity CLIC Sargent, Lidl UK's ongoing partner.
The collaboration, led by Keep Britain Tidy, will aim to encourage young people to reduce litter and waste and get involved in improving their local parks and green spaces.
In addition, a range of resources will be developed to support the national Eco-Schools programme, which offers help to schools to educate students about the environment.
The partnership will also be launched in Scotland and Wales through Keep Scotland Beautiful and Keep Wales Tidy.
In addition, Lidl's carrier bags will be rebranded for the first time since Lidl entered the UK in 1994.
Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “We know that the majority of children and young people do care about their environment and don't drop litter. The support of Lidl, through the donation of the proceeds from the single-use bag charge, will help us engage with those young people and create a generation of young people who not only care about their environment but are also equipped to do something to help.”
Lidl UK's chief executive Ronny Gottschlich, said: “We take our environmental responsibility as a grocery retailer very seriously. Despite having always charged for our carrier bags, we acknowledge that there is a lot of work still to be done in achieving our long-term vision of helping to protect the country's stunning natural heritage.
“We are proud to announce this new partnership and hope that the work we'll be doing alongside one another will encourage people to think twice before littering.”