Aldi is set to take popular product off shelves in all stores - and it's an Australian supermarket first
- Aldi Australia will replace plastic straws on juice boxes with paper alternatives
- The retailer will be the first major supermarket in the country to do so
- Rollout coming to NSW stores first followed by other states around the country
- It's hoped the decision will reduce plastic waste by around 18 tonnes a year
Aldi will be the first major supermarket in Australia to remove all plastic straws from its drinks range, replacing them with paper alternatives in a bid to remove more than 40 million plastic straws from sale annually.
The straws will be removed from beverage cartons, notably popular juice boxes or 'poppers', with the change hitting selected New South Wales stores first before being introduced interstate in 2022.
The existing drink cartons are recyclable and while the sleeve around the straw will remain plastic in the interim, it is able to be recycled through soft plastic recycling programs.
Product prices will not change as a result of the switch.
The initiative is expected to divert 18 tonnes of single-use plastic from landfill annually - or 2kg per hour - and will likely pave the way for other national supermarkets to follow suit.
Aldi Australia will replace plastic straws on juice boxes with paper alternatives in a bid to reduce single-use plastic
Dan Warner, Buying Director for Drinks at ALDI Australia, said: 'Juice boxes are a regular in kids' lunchboxes and we are exceptionally proud to start offering poppers with less plastic at the same low price.
'Parents on a mission to reduce household waste and their environmental impact can now have peace of mind knowing the drink in their child's lunchbox contains less plastic, and they aren't sacrificing convenience or worrying about any impact to their back pockets.
'It's crucial to us to deliver the best quality at the most affordable prices. When we can do that, make a change that benefits the planet and doesn't cost our customers more, it's a no-brainer.'
The change in packaging for the pilot scheme juice boxes will be achieved with the support of Aldi's Australian-based supplier business partner, Tru Blu Beverages.
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The initiative is expected to divert 18 tonnes of single-use plastic from landfill annually - or 2kg per hour (stock image)
The announcement follows Aldi Australia's 2020 decision to remove single-use plastic tableware from sale in stores, saving 322 tonnes of plastic from landfill, as well as replacing plastic-stemmed cotton buds with a paper-stemmed version.
'Responsibility is one of ALDI's core values, so when we say we are taking steps to contribute to a more sustainable future, we don't cut corners to get there,' Mr Warner continued.
'We challenge ourselves to be bold in our commitments, and that means assessing every single component of the supply chain and finding all the ways we can make a positive change.'
The paper straw program forms part of Aldi's goal to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging across its own-label range by 25 per cent by 2025.
This year the supermarket also announced it is 100 per cent powered with renewable electricity.
