The supermarket believes that this move will result in a reduction of 10.5 million wooden forks in salads and pasta bowls, equating to around 28 tonnes.
Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi, said: “At Aldi, we are constantly reviewing ways to become more environmentally friendly, and this is another positive change to help us make a difference. This will result in a significant reduction in single use materials and help customers to make more environmentally friendly choices.”
Aldi stocks ‘food to go’ ranges in its stores, mainly aimed at customers on lunch breaks in offices. Many of these come with a wooden fork attached. Many supermarkets have stocked these in a separate part of the store for those who need it, but Aldi says it is scrapping them entirely.
Packaging Trial
This moves comes after earlier this week Aldi has announced that it has begun trialling vacuum packed meat in stores located across the Midlands.
The packaging change by the supermarket is expected to cut the amount of plastic used by up to 73% and help reduce food waste as the packaging is thought to keep meat fresher for longer.
The move has been rolled out despite the fact Aldi’s rival Lidl was criticised for the scheme by some customers earlier this year, who said it impacted the quality of the meat, making mince appear ‘mushy’.
The supermarket however said that the aim of the trial is not just to reduce plastic waste but also get a clear understanding of which packaging consumers prefer.
Subscribe for free