Aldi has joined its competitors in pledging to remove single use 5p plastic bags to tackle plastic pollution by the end of the year.
The German discounter announced it was signing up to the forthcoming UK Plastics Pact, a cross-sector initiative from advocacy group WRAP, also revealing plans to support a national deposit return scheme for plastic bottles.
The supermarket added that all packaging on its own-label products will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022, while introducing 9p reusable 'bags for life'.
Matthew Barnes, CEO of Aldi UK & IRE, said: “Our customers trust us not only to offer them high-quality products at unbeatable prices, but to help them lead healthier, better lives.
“That includes reducing waste, particularly around unnecessary packaging and plastics that damage the environment we live in.
“While we cannot do this alone - and call on others to collaborate with us and others to drive change industry-wide - we are committed to doing all we can to lead the way and to bring our customers on this journey with us.”
Marcus Gover, CEO of WRAP, said their new cross-sector initiative UK Plastics Pact will be soon launched.
“Through WRAP’s new ambitious, cross-sector initiative, which will be unveiled soon, we will work together with governments, citizens and business to transform the way we make, use and dispose of plastic so that we retain its value, particularly in reducing food waste, but prevent it from polluting the environment,” Gover said.
“We are delighted that Aldi intend to be a founding member in our ground-breaking work.”
