This is as part of a crackdown on single-use plastics.
Supermarket chain Aldi is introducing new, fully recyclable paper straws across its own-label kids smoothies and orange and apple juice cartons, becoming the first supermarket in Ireland to do so.
The move will see more than 4.5 million single-use plastic straws removed from Aldi’s 145 Irish stores each year, equating to a saving of three tonnes of non-recyclable plastic.
It supports the Government’s plan to fully remove all plastic straws from circulation in Ireland by July 2021 under its Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
Aldi has begun rolling out the new sustainable paper straws across the smoothie and juice products, with the aim of having all plastic straws completely removed from its supermarkets by the end of June this year.
The retailer has been working with Donegal-based supplier Mulrines over the past two years to introduce the new straws.
The initiative is part of the supermarket chain’s long-term plastic reduction programme that is working to ensure 100% of Aldi’s own-label packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2022.
This is before reducing plastic packaging on Aldi products by 50% by 2025.
Since their plastic reduction strategy was introduced, the retailer has removed more than 2,000 tonnes of virgin plastic from its Irish stores and has replaced almost 930 tonnes of non-recyclable material with recyclable alternatives.
Aldi Group Buying Director John Curtin said in a statement: “We understand our customers are always looking for new ways to shop sustainably with us and we’re proud to be the first supermarket to fully remove plastic straws from our own-label products.”
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