- Reducing the consumption of plastic by 309 tonnes and paper by 9.3 tonnes, improving the ergonomics of deliveries, reducing the carbon footprint – these are just some of the most important effects of the packaging optimisation introduced by Aldi.
- On the occasion of the upcoming Packaging Day, the Aldi chain summarises the first results of its activities in this area and reveals further steps.
As SW Research shows, 43% of respondents admit that they always have a reusable shopping bag with them, and another 40% use it at least once a week. This is also confirmed by Aldi's analyses, which show that the average number of bags sold per store has been decreasing by double digits year-on-year. In turn, according to the EKObarometer Index report, over a third of respondents declare that when shopping for groceries, they take into account the impact of products on the natural environment.
In response to growing customer expectations in this area, Aldi has introduced a number of actions aimed at optimizing packaging and reducing the use of plastic. As part of Packaging Day on September 15, the discounter is presenting what changes have been implemented in this area in recent months.
The food industry is one of the main drivers of packaging development.
– According to the analyses of Santander Bank Polska, the food industry is one of the main drivers of packaging development. We believe that even minor changes in this area, thanks to the scale effect, can bring measurable effects – not only in the functioning of our network, but also in shaping new trends and searching for innovative solutions – emphasizes Katarzyna Szmuc, Packaging Management Manager at ALDI Polska. – A good example here are the changes we have introduced in the area of collective packaging for grapes – replacing plastic containers with cardboard for this one product group will ultimately translate into a reduction of plastic by 294 tons – she explains.
Aldi changes packaging
The main category that the chain focused on first is vegetables and fruits. In total, over 230 products were verified in terms of packaging, of which over 45% were recommended for optimization. Changes that have already been implemented include solutions such as replacing plastic dividers with paper ones or optimizing the size and shape of collective cartons.
Similar changes have also been introduced for selected spices, baking products and teas. The chain estimates that the actions taken will reduce the use of plastic by over 2 tons and paper by over 9 tons per year.
The optimisation also concerns the type of material used for packaging production – ALDI focuses on so-called virgin cardboard with a maximum of two colours of printing without decorations, which reduces the consumption of varnish and paints. What is more, thanks to better matching of the size of packaging to the products, the ergonomics of deliveries are improved – which translates into lower CO2 emissions.
– We are planning a number of further optimization activities, thanks to which with each subsequent step our products will become more and more eco-friendly, and Aldi customers will feel that their purchasing decisions are environmentally friendly. At the same time, we are also conducting talks with our suppliers so that our individual own brands, such as Wędliniarnia, also undergo a comprehensive optimization process – sums up Katarzyna Szmuc.
Aldi in Poland has over 300 stores and employs over 4,400 people.