Aldi Reduces Packaging for Fruit and Vegetables

After two years of „Aldi Packaging Mission“, the discounters Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are drawing a positive interim balance. And announce that they intend to offer at least 40 percent of fruit and vegetables unpackaged by the end of 2025.

In 2019, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd have continued to work on their „Packaging Mission“. As the companies announced on the occasion of an interim review, the packaging weight of private labels was reduced by a total of more than 67,000 tons compared to the base year 2015. In 2019 alone, there were 27,000 tons less packaging material than in the previous year. By the end of 2025, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd want to reduce the weight of packaging by 30 percent compared to 2015 and in relation to sales. In addition, by the end of 2022, all private label packaging should be recyclable.

„As part of our packaging mission, it is evident in many places that small changes have a big impact,“ says Kristina Bell, Group Buying Director at Aldi South, responsible for Quality & Corporate Responsibility.  „For example, just by eliminating the extra lid on our yogurt cups and coffee drinks, we can save 290 tons of plastic each year“.

New target for unpackaged fruit and vegetables

The company believes it is on the right track and intends to continue working with suppliers to examine where packaging can be sensibly reduced or made more sustainable. A particular focus of the packaging mission is therefore on the fruit and vegetable sector: by the end of 2025, discounters want to offer at least 40 percent of their products unpackaged. According to the companies, more than a third of fruit and vegetable items already get by without a plastic cover.

In order to counteract food losses, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are using sustainable packaging alternatives where appropriate and are reducing the proportion of plastic, increasing recyclability or using more ecological raw materials. As an example, the companies refer to organic vine tomatoes and apples packed in a grass fibre tray instead of cardboard.