Aldi is conducting trials to eliminate pulp trays and punnets from the packaging of various fruit and vegetable products. The changes involve removing plastic punnets from select stores’ Nature’s Pick Cherry Tomatoes, a move already enacted for Nature’s Pick Sliced Mushrooms and soon to follow for Baby Plum Tomatoes.
Furthermore, the supermarket is eliminating pulp trays from its Nature’s Pick Mango twin pack and Avocado twin pack to reduce overall packaging.
Aldi estimates that these changes could eliminate over 370 tonnes of plastic and packaging annually if implemented across all stores. Additionally, this initiative could potentially eliminate an additional estimated 234 tonnes of plastic packaging annually nationwide.
Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi, said, “At Aldi, we are constantly reviewing ways to reduce excess plastic and packaging, and these trials on a range of our fruit and vegetables are the next steps in helping us achieve our goals.
“Becoming a more sustainable supermarket is important to not only us, but our customers too, and further reducing packaging is just one of many changes to come.”
In a separate initiative, Aldi has introduced 1.5-litre wine pouches, starting with the Specially Selected Sauvignon Blanc Colombard Pouch, now available in stores. The retailer also launched the Specially Selected Cotéaux De Beziers Rosé Pouch on 1 August 2024.