Discount Retail Chain Aldi has rolled out 100% recycled plastic (rPet) packaging for some of its own private label brand washing-up liquid bottles. The discounter giant‘s switch applies to its standard Magnum washing-up liquid, Antibacterial and one litre Magnum Classic variants, but excludes caps and labels.
The new move is expected to save over 500 tonnes of virgin plastic annually, while the discount grocer’s decision to also reduce the weight of the bottles is aimed at saving a further 106 tonnes of plastic per year.
The latest change builds on Aldi’s target to incorporate at least 50% recycled content into its plastic packaging by 2025, and follows a switch to 100% rPET on all own-brand soft drinks and bottled waters in England and Wales last month.
Aldi UK plastics and packaging director Luke Emery said: “At Aldi, we know that our customers are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, and cutting back on plastic usage is just as important to them as it is to us.
“While the challenge of plastic packaging is significant across the industry, we are committed to minimising our impact wherever we can. Transitioning to recycled materials in our washing up liquid range and lowering the weight of our fabric conditioners are just two examples of our ongoing efforts to do so.”
Other recent changes the discounter has made in a bid to achieve its sustainability target, include plastic-free packaging on its everyday own-label toothbrushes, and artificial intelligence (AI) to track the journey of flexible plastic packaging collected from its front-of-store collection points.
