ALDI Australia has announced the national introduction of paper bags, offered as an alternative to its 15c plastic bag. The paper bags are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and 100 per cent kerbside recyclable.
The move will see “more than 888 tonnes of plastic removed from circulation annually” and is just the latest step ALDI has taken to reduce plastics. “Since its first store opened over 20 years ago, ALDI has never provided free-of-charge plastic bags and made the decision to remove all single-use plastic tableware from shelves in 2020,” according to the retailer.
“In 2019, ALDI Australia made a commitment towards a 25 per cent reduction in the use of plastic packaging by 2025. Since then, we have stopped around 4,000 tonnes of plastic from being introduced, and just by never having provided single-use carrier bags, we have saved an estimated 8.6 billion plastic bags from entering the market in the 22 years we’ve been operating in Australia,” says ALDI Australia Sustainability Director Daniel Baker.
In addition to the paper bag, the more durable ‘Le Bag Recycle’, which contains 80 per cent recycled material, 60 per cent of which comes from ALDI warehouses, will remain available to customers. This provides an additional level of reusability for when shoppers need to restock bulky and heavy items. The remainder of ALDI’s 15c plastic bags will be available throughout stores over the next few months until sold out.
ALDI customers will now be able to choose from the following bag options:
- The paper bag (25c), which is 100 per cent kerbside recyclable
- The robust Le Bag Recycle (99c), made from 80 per cent recycled material (not available in WA)
- The cooler bag ($2.49).
