Aldi is trailling a blister pack recycling scheme for its own-label medicines in a UK supermarket first.
The discount grocer is working with recycling firm TerraCycle to encourage customers to recycle their empty medicine packets made from plastic and aluminium foil.
TerraCycle will convert the materials, which would otherwise be disposed of in general waste, into a raw material which can then be used in the production of new products such as nuts and bolts from the aluminium, or plastic waste bins and outdoor furniture.
The trial launches today (9 October) and will run nationwide with customers able to send their empty blister packs via any Royal Mail Post Office or postbox in an envelope with a Freepost shipping label, which can be accessed via the Aldi website.
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A limit of two envelopes per month per customer has been applied as part of the trial.
Aldi UK plastics and packaging director, Luke Emery, said: “We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and continue to look for new ways to promote recycling wherever possible.
“We hope our customers will get involved in the trial and embrace this new way of recycling their empty blister packets.”
Wrap senior specialist, Adam Herriot, said the climate action NGO “fully supports” the trial as blister packs cannot currently be recycled at the kerbside.
“Being able to recycle this type of packaging into raw material, which can then be used for new products, is something we and our UK Plastics Pact members are working hard to achieve on a range of difficult-to-recycle plastics. We look forward to seeing the results of the trial,” Herriot added.
