Aldi has announced that it is removing all plastic packaging from its entire seasonal wooden toy and plush range this year.
The SpecialBuys toy range is currently available in stores while stocks last and includes 26 different kids’ favourites, such as wooden toy kitchens and pirate ships.
Further Reductions
The discounter noted that plastic reduction savings have also been made across four other product lines, resulting in a total saving of almost 15 tonnes.
This includes the removal of shrink wrap from its own-label beans, a switch from plastic to cardboard for its XXL screwdriver and bit set, and moving to recyclable plastic bottles for screenwash and AdBlue.
Welcoming the changes, Richard Gorman, plastic and packaging director at Aldi Ireland and UK, said, “Eradicating waste is a key part of Aldi’s Better Everyday sustainability goals, and removing unnecessary plastic from our packaging is a fundamental part of how we achieve that.
“We are continually reviewing all our product ranges to see where we can replace plastic with sustainable alternatives. It’s by making each of these small changes, like removing packaging plastic from our SpecialBuy[s] toys, that we’ll achieve our overall goals.”
A 5.5-Tonne Reduction
According to Aldi, the changes in its wooden-toy packaging will result in the company achieving a 5.5-tonne reduction in plastic packaging every year, achieved through a number of measures, including substituting plastic tape for paper tape, and replacing bubble wrap with paper wrap.
The range’s packaging is now made from 93% recyclable materials, Aldi added.
Aldi’s wooden toy range was first launched in 2016 and has ‘proved very popular’ with customers looking for ‘unusual and sustainable’ Christmas gifts.
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more packaging stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
