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UK and Ireland branches of Aldi will be ditching single-use plastic bags in a bid to become more eco-friendly.
Customers will still be able to buy bags for life and reusable £0.09 bags made from back-of-store plastic waste – but £0.05 plastic bags will be phased out.
The move is part of the chain’s bid to cut the amount of packaging and plastics used, working in collaboration with charity Waste and Resources Action Programme [WRAP].
Targets
In an attempt to meet environmental targets, Aldi has created a task force of internal and independent experts.
The targets include ensuring all packaging on its own-label products will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022, as well as reducing operational food waste by 50 percent by 2030 (based on 2015 data).
‘Can’t do it alone’
Matthew Barnes, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our customers trust us not only to offer them high-quality products at unbeatable prices, but to help them lead healthier, better lives.
“That includes reducing waste, particularly around unnecessary packaging and plastics that damage the environment we live in.
“While we cannot do this alone – and call on others to collaborate with us and others to drive change industry-wide – we are committed to doing all we can to lead the way and to bring our customers on this journey with us.”
Welcome
WRAP CEO, Marcus Gover, added: “We welcome Aldi taking positive action to reduce plastic waste.
“Through WRAP’s new ambitious, cross-sector initiative, which will be unveiled soon, we will work together with governments, citizens and business to transform the way we make, use and dispose of plastic so that we retain its value, particularly in reducing food waste, but prevent it from polluting the environment.
“We are delighted that Aldi intends to be a founding member in our ground-breaking work.”
