Aldi In Scotland Removes Flexible Packaging From 5 of Their Vegetable Ranges

Aldi takes the bold decision to remove flexible plastic packaging from 5 of its vegetable ranges, It is hoped this move from Aldi in Scotland will be rolled out across the UK.

Aldi looks to cut waste by removing flexible packaging from several of their Vegetable lines in Glasgow stores.

The trial is now ongoing focusing on 5 of their vegetable lines including Savoy cabbage, red cabbage, and cauliflower.

This move means that customers in the Glasgow area can now purchase these vegetable products plastic free. The trial is only for six weeks but it is forecast that it may save up to half a ton of plastic.

The initiative could potentially be rolled out across the United Kingdom which could save over 110 tonnes of plastic packaging a year just in Aldi fresh produce.

Aldi has led the way in removing the almost non-recyclable black plastic trays of four of its fresh produce ranges. This has been replaced with recyclable alternatives like foil packaging & metallised films for food.

A representative from Aldi’s corporate responsibility division has commented that despite the company working incredibly hard to reduce plastic they want to be certain that this reduction does not lead to excess food waste.

It is hoped the initiative will be positive for both the Aldi brand and customers alike. If successful Aldi has commented that they intend to roll it out across the UK.

This latest move is the latest addition to Aldi’s impressive track record when it comes to corporate responsibility. Since early 2018 they have replaced or phased out in excess of 2,500 tons of plastic with recyclable alternatives.

The supermarket’s goal is to reach 100% recyclable, reusable or biodegradable packaging across its house brands by 2022.

This initiative in 2019 also coincides with the opening of the first Aldi in Scotland. Furthermore, it is 10 years since the brand decided the creation of a dedicated Scottish buying department.

Aldi’s Commitment to Sustainability
By taking part in The UK Plastics Pact, a powerful commitment to eliminate “problematic” or “unnecessary” plastic packaging, Aldi began to make meaningful changes in its operations and product range.

The company has already introduced alternative packaging for some products including compostable fruit punnets and drink cartons. This also includes removing plastic from certain product lines and committing to disassociate from hard-to-recycle plastic packaging such as black trays.

Additionally, Aldi is working with suppliers and manufacturers to identify opportunities for reducing, reusing, or recycling materials. In 2018 Aldi disposed of 495 tonnes less of general waste due to the introduction of new measures that reduced levels of damaged stock and food waste sent for disposal.

Their commitment does not end there: they have pledged to become zero-carbon by 2040, shifting away from reliance on fossil fuels and achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2025. Aldi is taking big strides toward a more sustainable future.

The Aldi Plastic and Packaging Pledges
Aldi Scotland commits to reducing and removing unnecessary plastic packaging for its products. Thus, it first introduced its pledges in March 2018.

Lots have changed since the company first announced the pledges. So in July 2020, the company updated these pledges for more ambitious goals.

It removed all black plastic, PVC, and Expanded Polystyrene from its Core Range Food products.

Aldi is serious about its plastic and packaging pledges! Back in 2018, the company committed to reducing and removing plastic and packaging. That was only the beginning.

In July 2020, they upped the ante with even more ambitious pledges – including removing all black plastic from their core range of food products! This goal has been achieved, and they are now fully committed to increasing the sustainability of its label packaging, which is currently 92% recyclable, reusable, or home compostable.

Buying from Aldi is an eco-friendly choice. With this, consumers are excited to see what new initiatives the supermarkets will bring out in the future to help get them closer to 100% sustainability across their product range. That’s something all shoppers can feel great about. Aldi has certainly proved it’s taking this issue seriously!

Impressive list of Eco-friendly Initiatives
Aldi has an impressive list of eco-friendly initiatives. In 2020 alone, for instance, it removed 34 million pieces of plastic by getting rid of lids on Fresh Cream, Big Pot Yogurts, and Ready to Drink Coffee. It also switched its fresh meat transport from cardboard boxes and plastic wrap to reusable crates.

The supermarkets are also pushing up their proportion of recycled plastic packaging, which is at 11% currently. It’s even running trials of ambient product refills and offering customers reusable produce bags in all stores. Its ambition to be eco-friendly isn’t stopping anytime soon.

Changes Aldi Made
The company is passionate about reducing its plastic packaging usage and constantly strives to do better. It believes that this is not only beneficial for the environment but also gives customers a better shopping experience. Here are some of the things the organization made to its food and essentials packaging.

To help Aldi achieve this goal, it has been working with its suppliers to make meaningful changes. For example, it moved fresh meat from cardboard SRPs to reusable crates – saving a whopping 5800 tonnes of packaging per year!

Furthermore, by the end of 2021, its labelled tea bags are packed in no single-use plastic, both inside and outside. This simple switch will reduce yearly plastic usage by 80 tonnes!

January 2021 was a historic month for Aldi. It became the first supermarket in the UK to replace the plastic on its soft drinks cans with 100% recyclable, FSC-certified cardboard. This move is helping the environment by saving 90 tonnes of plastic.

That’s not all – Aldi is also working hard to decrease plastic in other areas. Through changes across their Special buys packaging, they have managed to remove 35 tonnes of plastic and replace 22 tonnes of un-recyclable plastic with a more environmentally friendly alternative! They have removed over 2 million pieces of throwaway Easter confectionery plastic which is the equivalent of 5,272 lop-eared bunnies – wow!

Furthermore, their fresh steak range will now come in cardboard trays as opposed to plastic ones which is an 88% reduction in plastic per pack or 1132 tonnes a year. To top it off, they are removing lids from their Baby Wipes packs which amount to an incredible 535 tonnes of plastic a year removed.

Aldi certainly has proven itself capable when it comes to reducing its environmental impact. If ever there was a reason to switch supermarkets and shop at Aldi then this is surely it. With good products and making positive steps towards a greener future, this is one company others should be supporting.

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