Aldi implements sustainable initiatives: Ditches plastic bags, pledges to switch to natural refrigerants by 2035

USA – Aldi has successfully phased out plastic shopping bags from its 2,300+ stores across the, a strategic move anticipated to prevent the circulation of nearly 9 million pounds of plastic annually.

In tandem, the supermarket giant has committed to transitioning to natural refrigerants in all U.S. stores by 2035, building upon its existing practice of employing eco-friendly refrigerants in over 600 stores.

Jason Hart, CEO at Aldi, underscored the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “As one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, we take our responsibility to lead the industry in sustainability seriously, so our customers don’t have to choose between shopping responsibly and saving money.”

Aldi’s refrigerant procurement strategy is tailored to each region’s climate, incorporating solutions such as carbon dioxide and propane refrigerants.

The company’s dedication to environmental stewardship has earned it the EPA’s GreenChill Store Certification Excellence recognition for the year 2023.

Cindy Newberg, Stratospheric Protection Division Director at the EPA, praised Aldi’s consistent commitment to minimizing refrigerant emissions, noting, “Aldi is leading the way with over 600 GreenChill certified stores, a GreenChill record.”

Furthermore, Aldi’s Asia buying office has recently embraced technology aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of its supply chains.

Across the pond in the UK, Aldi took a significant step in November of the previous year by eliminating all plastic packaging from its own-brand four-pack beer and cider products.

The conventional plastic shrink wrap and rings have been replaced with a more sustainable alternative – cardboard.

This cardboard packaging is designed for easy recycling at home, aligning with Aldi’s ongoing initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint by adopting sustainable packaging for its own-label products.

This transition is expected to eliminate approximately 95 tonnes of plastic packaging waste annually.

Concurrently, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and the Boomerang Alliance have released an independent audit on supermarket plastic use that found Aldi to be at the forefront of surveyed supermarkets’ efforts to reduce plastic packaging.

The German-owned company scored a 21.7 percent reduction in plastic on fresh produce and was the only supermarket to enforce sustainable packaging guidelines on its suppliers.

Coles came in second with 1.5 stars, having been named the strongest performer on reuse implementing trials such as a reusable box for online orders in Tasmania.

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