Aldi to use recyclable plastic trays for fresh fruits and veg

The move is expected to help save around 256 tonnes of plastic a year

Aldi plans to phase out “hard-to-recycle” black plastic trays for fruits and vegetables in favour of recyclable clear ones.

It is introducing the new trays on six ranges of fresh produce this month, including tomatoes and broccoli, which is expected to save around 256 tonnes of plastic a year.

It says black plastic cannot be identified by the machinery used to sift through household waste and as a result, is often diverted to landfill or burned to generate energy.

The supermarket is also changing the packaging of its pasta pots to use 95% recycled material, which is expected to reduce 139 tonnes of plastic annually.

They are part of Aldi’s commitment to ensure all its packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK said: “One part of that is to prevent plastic going to landfill by using materials that are easier to recycle – like these clear trays – but also to ensure that there is a demand for recycled plastic by using it in products like our pasta pots.”

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