Aldi joins UK’s Refill Coalition to reduce single-use plastic packaging use

UK – Multinational discount supermarket chain, Aldi has joined the Refill Coalition in a bid to reduce its single-use plastic.

Other companies that now participate in this program include supply chain solutions company CHEP, retailer Waitrose & Partners and grocery business Ocado.

Convened in 2020 by refill company Unpackaged, the Refill Coalition aims to co-design and develop an innovative refill solution that reduces and eliminates the use of single-use plastic.

Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK said: “Aldi is dedicated to reducing single-use plastic, which is why we are pleased to become a member of the Refill Coalition.

“We look forward to working together with industry partners to offer customers even more convenient and efficient ways to shop plastic-free, and drive further uptake of unpackaged products.”

Convened in 2020 by refill company Unpackaged, the Refill Coalition aims to co-design and develop an innovative refill solution that reduces and eliminates the use of single-use plastic.

It has received investments from the UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Plastics Packaging Challenge (SSPP).

Refill stations will enable customers to bring their reusable containers for purchasing loose products such as lentils or raisins.

Currently, the coalition’s collaborative solution, which focuses on dry store goods, is in its production stage and is expected to be installed at the first store later this year.

Catherine Conway, director at Unpackaged, added: “We are delighted that Aldi is joining the Coalition, strengthening the work we have already started with its unique position as the UK’s leading discounter.

“We look forward to launching the solution later in the year so that refills can become more accessible to UK shoppers who still want to consume less single-use plastic packaging on the items they purchase.”

As per data from the global campaigning network Greenpeace, this refill solution, once developed and implemented, could help to significantly reduce single-use plastic packaging across the UK.

The coalition claimed that approximately 99% of plastic packaging utilizes fossil fuels for production, resulting in carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.

SSPP deputy director Nick Cliffe added: “Supporting refill and reuse is critical to reducing single-use plastics and is one of the priorities for the SSPP Challenge.”

Meanwhile, Aldi has been coming up with ways to reduce plastic use in its packaging. Early this month, the retailer removed the glass and metal components from the pumps, making its handwash packaging fully recyclable at home.

Aldi says that it is the first UK supermarket retailer to make this change. The move will allow more than 200 tonnes of packaging material a year to be more easily recycled.

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