In 2019, Aldi continued to reduce packaging material, increase recyclability and use recycled plastic. The ALDI separation notice can now be found on almost all own-brand packaging - and has been nominated for the German Federal Ecodesign Award 2020.
By the end of 2025 Aldi save 30 per cent of the packaging weight from 2015. The discounter calls this the „packaging mission“ and has drawn up an initial balance sheet today. According to this, Aldi Nord and Süd were able to reduce the packaging weight of their own brands by a total of more than 67,000 tonnes compared to 2015. In 2019 alone, 27,000 tonnes less packaging material was used than in the previous year.
Fruit and vegetables increasingly unpackaged
A particular focus of the packaging mission is on fruit and vegetables. By the end of 2025, discounters want to offer at least 40 per cent of items without packaging. More than a third of fruit and vegetable products already do not require plastic packaging. However, some products require protective packaging as they are more sensitive and spoil more quickly.
To counteract food waste, Aldi uses sustainable packaging alternatives for these items and reduces the amount of plastic, increases recyclability or uses more ecological raw materials. This applies, for example, to the organic vine tomatoes and organic apples, which are packaged in a grass fibre tray instead of cardboard.
„Our packaging mission shows in many places that small changes can have a big impact. For example, we can save 290 tonnes of plastic a year just by eliminating the extra lid on our yoghurt pots and coffee drinks“
Kristina Bell, Group Buying Director at ALDI SOUTH
Separation notices on private labels
Aldi Nord and Süd have introduced separation notices on their own brands since the beginning of 2019. In doing so, the companies want to sensitise their customers to the topic of recycling and waste separation and continue to work towards expanding the circular economy and increasing the recycling rate. Almost all own-brand packaging is now labelled with the „tips for the bin“. As the innovative ALDI separation instructions are particularly appealing and easy to understand, they were nominated for the prestigious German Federal Ecodesign Award 2020 this year.
Source: Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd
