Three new environmentally friendly bag options will be introduced in 139 Aldi stores in Ireland.
Supermarket chain Aldi is to scrap the use of 12.5 million plastic bags annually with the introduction of three new environmentally friendly bag options in Ireland.
From January 2020, all loose fruit and veg bags in Aldi stores will be 100% compostable. Aldi will also be stocking a 100% Compostable Shopping Bag and a reusable and recyclable Paper Bag for Life.
Aldi says its new range of shopping bags will remove 10 million single-use plastic fruit and veg bags – the equivalent of 17.8 tonnes of plastic – and 2.5 million plastic shopping bags over the next year, marking the latest move in Aldi’s bid to reduce plastic packaging by 25% by the end of 2023.
Both of Aldi’s new fully certified 100% compostable bags are made of biodegradable pasted corn starch, making them suitable for commercial compost. The recyclable Paper Bag for Life is made from FSC certified eco-friendly paper and is printed with sustainable water inks, making it 100% recyclable.
Aldi says all bag options will be a durable replacement for plastic; the Compostable Shopping Bag will be able to carry up to 12kg and the Paper Bag for Life will support 20kg.
The move comes after Aldi Ireland recently became the first supermarket in the country to officially ban the use of non-detectable black plastic trays from its fresh beef range.
Aldi also recently cut similar packaging from its fruit and vegetables and fresh fish ranges and is working to ensure that 100% of its own label packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022, achieving a 50% reduction – relative to 2015 levels – in packaging across its own-label products by 2025.
Commenting on the launch of the new shopping bad options, John Curtin, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland, said:
“We are very proud to be the first retailer in Ireland to offer customers biodegradable and plastic-free alternatives to our entire produce and carrier bag range, including fruit and vegetable bags, standard carrier bags and Bags for Life.
“With 139 supermarkets in the Republic of Ireland, we are excited to see the environmental impact this new initiative will have in communities across the country.”
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