UK – Aldi, the budget supermarket chain, has made the decision to eliminate all plastic packaging from its own-brand four-pack beer and cider products.
The retailer has replaced the traditional plastic shrink wrap and rings used on its beer and cider packs with a more sustainable alternative – cardboard. Aldi stated that this cardboard packaging can be recycled at home.
The change comes as part of the retailer’s ongoing efforts to reduce its overall environmental impact by creating sustainable packaging for its own-label products throughout the UK.
The introduction of these cardboard packs is expected to eliminate approximately 95 tonnes of plastic packaging waste generated annually.
Aldi Plastics and Packaging director, Luke Emery, said, “Minimizing plastic waste is important to both Aldi and our customers, and we are constantly seeking ways to modify our packaging.
“Moving our beer and cider to cardboard packaging is another step in our fight against unnecessary plastic.”
The move comes a few months after the supermarket chain decided to transition to using fully recyclable packaging for its own-brand handwash products.
In September of this year, the retailer also announced the elimination of all single-use cutlery from its Food To Go range across all of its stores in the UK.
Aldi has announced that it will permanently replace its single-use cutlery by encouraging its customers to switch to reusable alternatives.
This move alone is expected to minimize 10.5 million or up to 28 tonnes of wooden forks used in salads and pasta bowls, allowing Aldi to reduce its overall usage of single-use items.
The UK Refill Coalition has also announced the launch of its first in-store trial of a refill solution at an Aldi store in Solihull, England, UK.
The news comes barely a month after Aldi stores in Australia launched a series of waste reduction initiatives aimed at reducing plastic usage by 25 percent.
The grocer claims to have already reached the halfway mark, with some changes already in effect and others scheduled for later this year.
Since 2019, Aldi has reported a 12.2 percent reduction in plastic waste, which is equivalent to 5,500 tonnes of plastic being removed from circulation.
In a recent announcement, Aldi revealed that its Jindurra Station two-star beef mince now features packaging with 70 percent less plastic.
Furthermore, the supermarket is transitioning its “everyday range” of batteries from plastic to paper packaging, which will result in the elimination of approximately 17 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Looking ahead, Aldi plans to phase out Styrofoam noodle cups and replace them with paper-based recyclable alternatives later this year.
These initiatives come at a time when major supermarkets are facing increasing criticism for their excessive use of plastic, especially on products such as fruit and vegetables, which already have their own natural protective layers.
