Aldi initiates a trial to reduce plastic waste by offering loose fruit and vegetables.
- Garlic, limes, lemons, and oranges will be available in select stores starting this week.
- The trial aims to eliminate 94 tonnes of plastic packaging annually if implemented nationwide.
- Currently, similar options are available for potatoes, peppers, and avocados.
- Aldi has been named the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the fifteenth consecutive month.
Aldi is implementing a trial that introduces four new lines of loose fruits and vegetables as part of its efforts to curb plastic waste. Customers will find garlic, limes, lemons, and oranges available without packaging in selected locations across the UK. This change is intended to further Aldi’s commitment to reducing plastic usage in its stores.
This initiative, being launched in select Aldi stores in the North East, Cumbria, Yorkshire, South East, and London, includes offerings such as loose garlic and limes. Additionally, consumers in the East of England, East Midlands, and London will have access to loose garlic, limes, lemons, and oranges, thus expanding the availability of plastic-free options in these regions.
If this trial proves successful and is rolled out to all Aldi locations, it could result in the reduction of plastic packaging by an estimated 94 tonnes each year. Aldi’s current selection of loose produce includes items such as potatoes, peppers, and avocados, and the trial represents a significant step in broadening these sustainable choices.
Luke Emery, Aldi’s Plastics and Packaging Director, stated, “At Aldi, we are committed to removing plastic packaging wherever possible and we are constantly reviewing ways to make a real difference. By trialling these packaging-free produce lines, we hope to help customers cut back on unnecessary plastic when shopping at Aldi.” This reflects the company’s broader strategy and determination to implement sustainable practices across its operations.
This trial follows Aldi’s recent adjustment to its pricing strategy, which involved lowering prices on fruit and vegetable products within its Everyday Essentials range and expanding its Super 6 range to a Super 7. Additionally, according to a consumer group report, Aldi has maintained its position as the UK’s most affordable supermarket for the fifteenth month running, which reinforces its prominence in the UK’s retail sector.
Aldi’s initiative to offer loose fruit and vegetables without packaging underscores its ongoing commitment to sustainability and competitive pricing.
