Aldi

In the UK, discount retailer Aldi has announced plans to phase out its use of black plastic trays for fruit and vegetables in favour of clear recyclable ones, according to a report from The Grocer.

The company is introducing the new trays on six ranges of fresh produce this month, including tomatoes, broccoli and asparagus.

According to Aldi, the move to do away with black plastic will save 265 tonnes of plastic a year, since the material remains difficult if not impossible to recycle.

The effort forms part of the retailer’s action plan to make all its own brand packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi UK, commented: “One part of that is to prevent plastic going to landfill by using materials that are easier to recycle – like these clear trays – but also to ensure that there is a demand for recycled plastic by using it in products like our pasta pots.”