Aldi in the UK and Ireland will ditch its single-use £0.05 plastic bags, instead choosing to provide bags for life and reusable £0.09 bags made from back-of-store plastic waste.
As part of its work to cut the amount of packaging and plastics used, the supermarket has pledged its support a cross-sector initiative set up by charity Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Aldi now aims to ensure that all packaging on its own-label products will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022. Earlier this year, Aldi UK and Ireland announced an aim to reduce operational food waste by 50% by 2030 from a 2015 benchmark.
To help hit its sustainability targets, the chain has set up a task force, made up of internal and independent experts.
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.”
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 intend to be a founding member in our ground-breaking work.”
Aldi has charged for single-use bags since opening its first UK store in 1990, and has used plastic recycled from its back-of-store waste to make its reusable carrier bags since the middle of last year.
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