Aldi Card-wrap-removal

Source: Aldi

The move affects nearly 11 million packs annually of Aldi’s 330ml cola, orangeade, lemonade and tropical drinks

Aldi is claiming a UK supermarket first with the removal of plastic shrink-wrap from own-label multipacks of soft drink cans.

The shrink-wrap has been replaced with 100% recyclable FSC-certified cardboard, saving a claimed 90 tonnes of plastic a year from nearly 11 million packs of Aldi’s 330ml cola, orangeade, lemonade and tropical drinks.

Aldi also plans to do the same for own-brand beer and cider by the end of the year.

“The move away from shrink-wrap on our canned soft drink range is another step in the right direction,” said Aldi UK plastics and packaging director Richard Gorman.

“We know our customers want to protect the environment, and it’s small changes like this that make all the difference.”

Coca-Cola took a similar move in 2019, moving more than 30 million multipacks annually from shrink-wrap to cardboard.

The move by Aldi is one of its measures to reach its commitment to make all product packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025.

In February last year, Aldi UK & Ireland CEO Giles Hurley wrote to suppliers urging them to get on board with its targets and warning future buying decisions would be based on their ability to keep up.