Aldi has removed the plastic packaging on its bananas in a trial across selected stores in the North East, Yorkshire, the South West, the South East and the Midlands.
The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket is replacing the traditional plastic bag with a paper band alternative on selected lines, including its Nature’s Pick five-pack, midi bananas and the Organic six-pack.
If successful, this significant change could lead to the removal of an estimated 234 tonnes of plastic packaging per year, underscoring Aldi's substantial contribution to reducing plastic waste.
“At Aldi, we know how important reducing plastic is to our customers, colleagues, and the planet's future. We are constantly reviewing ways we can do this, and our latest trial on bananas is another great step on that journey,” said Luke Emery, Aldi's Plastics and Packaging Director.
The move is the latest in several plastic and packaging-reduction initiatives by the supermarket. Aldi is introducing thinner bags for its onions, saving 13 tonnes of plastic annually.
It is also replacing the current non-recyclable packaging on its Specially Selected West Country and Yorkshire block butter with a paper-based alternative wrap that can be recycled at home, helping to remove more than 10 tonnes of non-recyclable packaging from circulation each year.
