Aldi clear cap milk

Source: Aldi

The move is in partnership with Müller and will be rolled out to all stores supplied by the dairy giant if successful

Aldi has become the latest supermarket to introduce clear milk bottle caps in an effort to improve recyclability.

The discounter is removing green caps from its British semi-skimmed standard milk in favour of clear ones, which are said to be easier to recycle.

The move, in partnership with Müller, will be introduced later this month across Aldi stores in Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool.

Aldi said that if it proved successful, and rolled out to all Müller-supplied stores, an additional 60 tonnes per year of recycled high-density polythene could be turned back into food-grade packaging, in the form of new milk bottles.

It follows a similar trial by Waitrose, also in partnership with Müller, which led the supermarket to permanently scrap coloured caps on own label milk bottles in June this year. 

“We know it’s becoming increasingly important to our customers that their everyday products are environmentally friendly, and we are constantly reviewing ways to become a more sustainable supermarket,” said Aldi plastic and packaging director Richard Gorman.

“By trialling clear milk caps we are making our milk bottles easier to recycle, so they can be turned back into new packaging.”

Aldi said it was on track to have 50% of its plastic packaging made from recycled materials by 2025.