Aldi is following the likes of Waitrose and M&S in selling products packaging-free.
A pilot is underway at one store in Ulverston, Cumbria, with Aldi saying it will look to develop refillable options in other stores if the trial proves successful.
Basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli are available to buy loose, with Aldi providing customers with free, recyclable paper bags to fill up from a bank of dispensers.
The discounter claims that a wider roll-out could remove more than 130 tonnes of plastic annually from its stores.
Richard Gorman, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, said: “Customers at our Ulverston store can now buy the same high-quality items they know and love, while also cutting down on plastic packaging.
“We’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste plastic and limit packaging, as many of our shoppers are increasingly conscious of the environment and their impact on it. We hope local customers embrace the trial, and we will use their feedback to inform any future plans around refillable products.”
Last year, Aldi committed to halving the volume of plastic packaging it uses by 2025, requiring the elimination of 74,000 tonnes of the material over the next five years.
Several supermarkets have been experimenting with selling products without their normal packaging. Following the success of trials in 2019, Waitrose has rolled out its ‘Unpacked’ initiative to four stores, whilst Marks & Spencer’s ‘Fill Your Own’ concept is available at three of its sites.
