Aldi packaging-free store trial comes to an end

Aldi has scrapped its packaging-free store trial as it now looks into its future sustainability plans.

The discount grocer launched its packaging-free trial at its store in Ulverston, Cumbria last year aiming to reduce waste and encourage sustainable shopping among the discount retailer‘s customers.

According to The Grocer, with eight dispensers located within the store, during the trial shoppers were able to fill up free recyclable paper bags with basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli.

In August 2021, customers were also able to use their own refillable containers, with prices of all products determined by weight.

READ MORE: Aldi increases employee pay for the second time this year

At the beginning of the trial, Aldi announced if it proved successful, it would hope to extend packaging-free stations to other stores.

The retailer also said extending the initiative could save 130 tonnes of plastic each year which would add to the retailers previous pledge to half the volume of its plastic packaging by 2025, removing a further 74,000 tonnes of plastic from circulation.

At the time of the trial’s debut, Aldi’s plastics and packaging director, Richard Gorman told The Grocer: “We hope local customers embrace the trial and we will use their feedback to inform any future plans around refillable products.”

As Aldi focuses on its next steps, Tesco has also ended its one-year in-store trial with zero-waste refill service, Loop which allowed shoppers to buy products in reusable packaging.

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