Aldi is making a huge change to an everyday breakfast favourite following controversial shake-up
ALDI is set to swap in paper for one of its staple breakfast items in a bid to bring down plastic packaging.
The “everyday essentials porridge oats” will now be packaged in paper instead.
It means all of Aldi‘s oat products are now in paper packaging – including the “organic” and “Scottish” varieties.
The budget supermarket claims the latest move is projected to save 57 tonnes of plastic per year.
Aldi is aiming for a 50 per cent reduction in plastic packaging by 2025, so the porridge oats paper swap is unlikely to be the last.
Last year, the supermarket chain switched to 100 per cent recyclable cardboard packaging on all of its own-brand porridge pots.
Plastics and Packaging boss Luke Emery was confident the move would be supported by customers.
He said: “At Aldi, we are committed to reducing the use of plastic across our products and this latest change is another example of our ongoing progress.
“We know our customers want to make sustainable choices when they shop with us, which is why small steps like this can make a big difference.”
A kilogram of the everyday essentials porridge oats pack costs just 90 pence online.
But the environmental move could cause controversy among some customers.
Aldi in February kick-started a trial of double toilet rolls in the supermarket’s quest for sustainability.
In the Aldi UK shoppers Facebook group, one user asked: “What’s everyone’s thoughts on the new toilet roll packs?
“I’ve got a free standing toilet roll stacker so I think they will fit in it but do they fit on a wall toilet roll dispenser? I left my purchase today as don’t like change.”
Others were quick to chime in, with another saying: “All toilet roll have got smaller.”
Aldi is not alone in supermarkets swapping up their packaging.
Sainsbury’s changed its mince meat packaging in 2023, meaning shoppers now get the product vacuum sealed.
Co-op enacted the same change for 11 meat products for environmental reasons.
Meanwhile, posh shop Marks & Spencer ditched the best-before dates on fruit and vegetable, after Asda did the same in 2022.
Also in 2023, Waitrose waved goodbye to its red, blue and green milk caps to save on plastic packaging.