Supermarket chain Aldi has launched a trial selling its first packaging-free products in the UK at one of its Cumbrian stores.
Four household staples – basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli – are now available to buy loose in its Ulverston store.
The move could remove more than 130 tonnes of plastic – or more than 21 million pieces – from circulation annually from stores.
The products are available by weight, and Aldi will provide customers with free paper bags that are fully recyclable and made of FSC-certified material.
Richard Gorman, plastics and packaging director at Aldi, said: “Aldi customers in Ulverston can now buy the same high-quality items they know and love while cutting down on plastic packaging.
“We’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste plastic and limit packaging, as many of our shoppers are increasingly conscious of the environment and their impact on it.
“We hope customers embrace the trial, and we will use their feedback to inform any future plans around refillable products.”
In 2020, Aldi announced its ambitious new commitment to halve the volume of plastic packaging used by 2025. This will see it remove 74,000 tonnes of plastic packaging from products over the next five years.
