Major Retail Shift Signals Turning Point for Ocean Protection

dm-drogerie markt, Europe’s largest drugstore retailer, has removed all krill-based products, marking a significant shift toward more sustainable consumer choices.

“As a retailer with a clear commitment to sustainability, we want to play an active and positive role in shaping the future,” said Kerstin Erbe, Managing Director, Product Management & Sustainability,.

The company operates more than 4,000 stores across Europe and has now stopped using krill oil in its private-label products while phasing out all third-party krill items. The decision follows growing scientific concern about krill populations, which may have declined by up to 80% in key Antarctic regions since the 1970s. As a keystone species, krill are essential to the survival of whales, penguins, and seals. The move also builds on wider industry momentum, with retailers like Holland & Barrett already committing to exiting the category, signalling a broader market shift that could reduce pressure on fragile ocean ecosystems and reshape supply chains toward more sustainable alternatives.