Aldi plans to transition all its own-brand soft drink and water bottles into 100% rPET – a move expected to save 10,000 tonnes of virgin plastic every year.
Apparently, Aldi will become the first supermarket in the UK to package all own-brand products in its soft drinks range into 100% recycled content, excluding caps and labels.
This is expected to align with the retailer’s goal of implementing 50% recycled content into its plastic packaging across the business by 2025.
“We know our customers care about how their food and drink is packaged, as well as how it is disposed of and where it goes next,” says Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK. “This, coupled with the fact that the reuse of plastic packaging once it has been recycled is a critical industry-wide issue, means we’re doing all we can to reduce our impact.
“Moving to recycled content on our soft drinks range forms part of our efforts to accelerate our progress on this journey. We also hope the new labelling we are introducing will help to remind customers to recycle their packaging after use so we can all do our bit to increase recycling rates in the UK.”
Helen Bird, head of Material Systems Transformation at WRAP, continued: “We are delighted to see UK Plastics Pact member, Aldi, transitioning all their own-label soft drinks and bottled water to 100% recycled content.
“Reaching the highest levels of recycled content can only be achieved through action and collaboration across the industry; ensuring packs are designed for optimal recycling, as well as engaging with citizens around how to recycle them.”
“It’s great to see Aldi delivering on their commitments to increase the amount of recycled content in packaging,” added Tom McBeth, manager of Policy & Infrastructure at RECOUP. “In line with circular economy aims, this change will see a significant amount of virgin material replaced with recycled plastic.”
Other steps taken by Aldi this year include its work with Packamama to develop ‘flat’, 100% rPET wine bottles. As they are thought to be almost seven times lighter than traditional glass bottles, these alternatives are set to improve transportation and storage processes for both the seller and the consumer.
The retailer also reports that its own-label toothbrush packaging is now plastic-free – a redesign set to contribute to the removal of around 17 tonnes of plastic packaging from its operations annually.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is now distributing 100% rPET 500ml bottles in Hong Kong. The company intends to achieve 100% recyclability across its packaging by 2025, as well as implement 50% recycled material by 2030.
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