Aldi has shared seven handy tips to help customers shop sustainably without breaking the bank.
The retailer advises looking out for sustainably-sourced fish, seasonal fruit and veg and watching out for cruelty-free cleaning products.
These small steps can help make a difference to the planet - even on a budget.
Here are Aldi's seven sustainable shopping tips:
1. Shop seasonal
Fruit and vegetables can often be cheaper – and tastier - if they’re in season in Ireland, as there is simply more available. Buying Irish also means you’re helping to support Irish farmers and cutting food miles. Aldi’s weekly Super 6 offers feature a range of fruit and veg that is in season and in plentiful supply, at even lower prices than usual.
2. Cut food waste
The best way of saving money is to eat everything you buy, as it’s estimated that households throw away one-fifth of all food bought every week. Buying in bulk and cooking meals that can be frozen and consumed later is an easy way to make the food you buy go further. Be wary of ‘multi-buy’ deals that might lead you to buy more than you actually need.
3. Look out for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish
By choosing seafood with the MSC’s blue fish label you are supporting independently-certified sustainable fisheries. Its good management practices help ensure fish stocks and habitats are healthy and fishing community livelihoods are secure.
4. Switch to biodegradable wipes
Face wipes and baby wipes often contain plastic, which is difficult to break down and harmful to the environment. When shopping, keep an eye out for biodegradable wipes made from plant-based materials for a more eco-friendly solution. Aldi has Lacura biodegradable face wipes in store now.
5. Cruelty-free cleaning
Many shoppers will look for cruelty-free cosmetics and toiletries, but people often aren’t aware that many household cleaning products are also tested on animals. All Aldi’s own-brand household and cleaning products, as well as cosmetic and personal care products, are approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, the international gold standard for cruelty free products.
6. Re-use your shopping bag
Customers can pick up a range of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags at Aldi stores, including a 100% compostable shopping bag, as well as paper shopping bags and a paper bag-for-life. We have also introduced 100% compostable produce bags to replace the old single-use plastic bags across our 142 Irish stores, removing over 10 million single-use bags every year.
7. Say no to black plastic
Aldi has pledged to remove all black plastic from its core food range by the end of 2020. So far, Aldi has removed more than 10 million non-detectable black plastic trays from its fresh fruit and veg, fresh fish and fresh beef ranges.
