Aldi Ireland has introduced new, fully recyclable wax paper packaging across two of its own-label bread products, becoming the first supermarket in Ireland to do so.
The switch will see 18 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic removed from stores each year.
Sustainable Packaging
Aldi has been working with its Irish suppliers over the past few months to roll out the new sustainable packaging across its Irish-produced Wholemeal Sliced Pan and White Family Pan, which customers can pick up at Aldi’s 145 Irish stores now.
To inform customers they are purchasing a product wrapped in sustainable packaging, Aldi has also introduced a new logo on packs.
The initiative is part of Aldi’s long-term plastic reduction programme, which is working to ensure 100% of Aldi’s own-label packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable next year, and to reduce plastic packaging on Aldi products by 50% by 2025.
Commenting, John Curtin, Aldi Group buying director, said: “Introducing this new recyclable packaging across our sliced pans is another step towards our goal of having all our own-label packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable. We understand our customers are constantly looking for new ways to shop sustainably with us, and the new sustainable packaging is available to pick up in stores now. Customers can look out for the new dedicated logo on our wholemeal and family sliced pans.”
Plastic-Reduction
Since introducing its plastic-reduction strategy, the retailer has removed more than 2,050 tonnes of virgin plastic from its 145 Irish stores in addition to replacing more than 920 tonnes of non-recyclable material with recyclable alternatives.
Over the past year, the grocery giant has made huge progress towards achieving its targets to reduce and remove the amount of plastic used across its business.
Successes include; becoming the first retailer in Ireland to introduce 100% recycled PET water bottles across its own-label water range, a change which affects more than 30 million water bottles each year; becoming the first retailer to trial 100% home compostable bags across its 1kg Irish Rooster Potato range; and becoming the first retailer in Ireland to fully remove all black plastic from core food ranges.
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