Aldi Switches to 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles for Soft Drinks and Water

Supermarket chain Aldi has made a notable advancement in sustainable packaging by introducing 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bottles for its own-brand soft drinks and water in England and Wales. This shift covers all products in the soft drinks aisle, except for caps and labels, and is expected to cut the use of virgin plastic by about 10,000 tons per annum.

This initiative aligns with Aldi’s broader objective of incorporating 50% recycled content in all its plastic packaging by 2025. Luke Emery, Aldi’s Director of Plastics and Packaging, highlighted the importance of responsible packaging and disposal, emphasizing the industry’s critical focus on reusing recycled plastic packaging. Emery noted that the new labeling will also encourage customers to recycle their packaging, contributing to increased recycling rates in the UK.

This development follows Aldi’s recent introduction of own-brand paper wine bottles, made from 94% recycled paperboard, and flat rPET wine bottles, aligning with Global Recycling Day.