Aldi Ireland has banned the use of non-detectable black plastic trays across its entire fruit and vegetable range.
This move will see the supermarket giant save over 450 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually.
The Irish-grown Specially Selected Tomatoes range was first to underdo packaging redesign after switching to cardboard.
The plastic trays are non-detectable as they are difficult for waste operator machinery to detect and need to be sorted by hand.
The initiative will see Aldi reducing the use of plastic packaging across all its 139 Irish stores.
Non-detectable black plastic trays, expanded polystyrene trays and PVC will all be removed from all Aldi own-brand product packaging by the end of 2020.
Seamus Clancy, CEO of Repak said: “The Irish public have woken up to the damage that plastics are doing to our environment, so it’s great to see Repak Member and Plastic Pledge signatory Aldi demonstrating its commitment to the environment by reducing the amount of packaging and difficult-to-recycle plastics in its stores.
“While black plastic trays are accepted in the household recycling bin, they are difficult for waste operator machinery to detect, so need to be sorted by hand.
“We welcome this move from Aldi and its other efforts to reduce waste and improve Ireland’s recycling rates.”
