Aldi has announced it is removing all plastic packaging from its entire wooden toy range in an effort to reduce its overall use of plastics.
The discounter’s new Specialbuy range, which is due to launch this Sunday, includes 26 different items such as wooden medical carts and pirate ships.
The wooden toy range was first launched in 2016 and proved a success as Brits were drawn to more sustainable Christmas gifts.
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Aldi has also removed the plastic packaging on its giant soft toys, and a new eco plush toy – made from recycled plastic bottles – will also go on sale.
The changes across Aldi’s toy range will result in a 54 tonne reduction in plastic packaging each year.
It has been achieved by a number of changes, including substituting paper tape for plastic, and replacing bubble wrap with paper wrap, meaning the range’s packaging is now made from 93 per cent recyclable materials.
“Eradicating waste is a key part of Aldi’s Better Everyday sustainability strategy, and removing unnecessary plastic from our packaging is a fundamental part of that,” Aldi UK plastics and packaging director, Richard Gorman said.
“In 2018, we pledged that all our packaging would be recyclable, compostable or re-usable by the end of 2022, so we’re continually reviewing all of our product ranges to remove unnecessary packaging.
“It’s by making small changes, like removing packaging plastic from our Specialbuy toys, that we’ll achieve our goal.”
Aldi also committed to halve the total volume of plastic packaging it uses by 2025.
This will see the supermarket remove 74,000 tonnes of plastic packaging from products over the next four years.
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