Aldi announces important change for shoppers who 'buy crisps'

Aldi is rolling out an important change for shoppers who buy its crisps. The German supermarket giant, which is rivalled by Lidl and more, recycled plastic to its own-label crisp packaging in a UK supermarket first for British retailers.

Aldi, which opened its first UK store back in Stechford in the early 1990s, says it will incorporate a minimum of 35% recycled content across its Specially Selected Hand Cooked range, which has already rolled out nationwide.

And the chain, which is now the fourth biggest in the country and rivalled by the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and more, says its own-label popcorn and lentil chips are set to follow towards the end of the year (2024).

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The change is expected to eliminate 78 tonnes of virgin plastic from use annually and forms part of the supermarket’s target to include 50 per cent recycled content into its plastic packaging by 2025, Aldi has confirmed this week.

Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, said in a statement alongside the announcement: “At Aldi, we are continuously making changes when it comes to reducing plastic waste, and we know how important this is to our customers too."

Mr Emery went on and added: “Increasing the recycled content in our crisp packaging is just one way we are helping our customers to reduce their environmental impact, with all these little changes adding up to make an even bigger difference.”

This is the latest move in Aldi’s continuing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and develop alternative packaging for its products. Last month, Aldi introduced 100% recycled plastic (rPet) on some of its own-brand washing up liquid bottles, while in April it was the first supermarket to move to 100% recycled plastic (rPet) for its own-brand soft drinks and bottled water range in England and Wales.