Aldi begins a national phase out of its reusable 15c plastic bag from today, at the same time rolling out a paper bag alternative now available in all stores. The supermarket says the paper bags are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and 100 per cent kerbside recyclable.
This latest move offers customers a plastic-free option during their shop and the company claims will see more than 888 tonnes of plastic removed from circulation annually.
Daniel Baker, sustainability director at Aldi Australia said, “Aussies are continuing to make more conscious choices, and we want to continue meeting their needs. Ultimately, bringing your own bags every time you shop is the most sustainable option. We encourage customers to continue doing so, but when they can’t, our paper bags are now available. These may seem like small changes, but they all add up to making a big difference.”
Since opening its first store over 20 years ago, Aldi claims it has never provided free-of-charge plastic carrier bags and made the decision to remove all single-use plastic tableware from shelves in 2020.
“In 2019, Aldi Australia also made a commitment towards a 25 per cent reduction in the use of plastic packaging by 2025. Since then, we have stopped around 4000 tonnes of plastic from being introduced, and just by never having provided single-use carrier bags, we have saved an estimated 8.6 billion plastic bags from entering the market in the 22 years we’ve been operating in Australia,” Baker said.
In addition to the paper bag, the more durable ‘Le Bag Recycle’, which the supermarket says contains 80 per cent recycled material, 60 per cent of which comes from its warehouses, will remain available to customers. Aldi hopes this provides an additional level of reusability for when shoppers need to restock bulky and heavy items. The remainder of Aldi’s 15c plastic bags will be available throughout stores over the next few months until sold out.
