// Aldi to scrap over 2 billion single items of plastic in the next 5 years
// The grocer said it will reduce the volume of plastic packaging used by 50% by 2025
Aldi has pledged to remove over two billion single items of plastic as it aims to cut down on plastic packaging.
The German discounter said it will remove 74,000 tonnes of plastic packaging during the next five years after announcing a new commitment to reduce the volume of plastic packaging used by 50 per cent by 2025.
To achieve this, Aldi will work to remove and reduce unnecessary packaging and switch to alternative materials.
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Where plastic is required, it will be recyclable and made of recycled material.
The new target is part of Aldi’s overall strategy to ensure that all own-label products are recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022 and branded products sold at Aldi by 2025.
Since introducing its plastic-reduction strategy in March 2018, Aldi has removed more than 6000 tonnes of plastic and replaced over 3200 tonnes of unrecyclable material with recyclable alternatives.
“We are stepping up our efforts to reduce the amount of plastic packaging used across our business because it is the right thing to do for a sustainable future,” Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said.
“We know this issue matters to our customers too and are confident they will support our initiatives to reduce plastic in the coming years.”
Aldi has been working closely with its suppliers in recent months to find ways to reduce avoidable plastics.
These include replacing plastic wrapping on toilet rolls with a paper alternative, removing over lids from cream and yogurts and replacing plastic packaging on steak lines with a cardboard alternative.
“We can only achieve our long-term plastic reduction targets with support from suppliers. The response we have received so far has been extremely positive and we look forward to working with them to develop further innovative packaging solutions,” Hurley said.
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