Aldi Ireland has announced that it has met its ambitious 2020 plastic and packaging pledges.
In March 2018, Aldi set six challenging pledges in plastic and packaging and is working in partnership with over 250 Irish suppliers to meet these pledges.
Commenting, Niall O’Connor, group managing director, Aldi said: “The progress this year underlines the dedication that we at Aldi have to sustainability across all areas of our business and I welcome the progress made in our different initiatives, including using compostable packaging, new sustainable sourcing measures and in our biodiversity activities."
Pledges
At the end of 2020, Aldi said that it has already achieved two of the six pledges, eliminating problematic plastic packaging such as ‘black plastic’ and PVC from all of its core range food products.
Aldi also introduced 100% pulp-based packaging across core range which is FSC or PEFC certified or made of minimum 70% recycled content.
"Completing two out of the six ambitious plastics and packaging pledges so far is a tremendous effort, in addition to being first to market with new and exciting sustainable solutions and continuing to make great progress against our other pledges," O'Connor said.
"This progress is a testament to the work of the Aldi team and their understanding of the importance of sustainability throughout our business," he added.
Compostable Packaging
In the past 12 months, the retailer said that has removed over 600 tonnes of packaging from its products and stores, with three tonnes of plastic removed from its Christmas range alone for 2020.
In addition, Aldi highlighted that it has planted over 55,000 native Irish hardwood trees this year and has been trialling new alternative environmentally-friendly packaging for future use, including fully home compostable packaging for Aldi’s Organic Twin Pack Avocados and Organic Kiwi 4 Packs, compostable rooster potato bags and reusable produce bags made from 100% recycled water bottles.
The discounter said that it has also made progress in the wider area of sustainability in 2020 through new and innovative approaches, such as becoming the first retailer nationwide to test traceability technology to capture all of the information from the marine supply chain, for more transparency for shoppers.
This system is in place for all of Aldi’s Irish Organic Salmon and Wild Hake products.
"We are proud of what has been accomplished this year against challenging circumstances and we look forward to continuing this work into 2021,” O'Connor said.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
