Sustainable Packaging

As a major retailer, we take responsibility for the environmental impact of our packaging.

Why we care about sustainable packaging

We have been improving the use of plastic and packaging across our exclusive brand product range since 2019. The quality and integrity of our products cannot be compromised, but our desire to improve packaging sees us exploring sustainable alternatives that support a circular economy for Australia.

We’re changing our packaging for the better

ALDI has made packaging improvements across our products, including:

Removing plastic bowls, plates, cutlery and cups from our shelves, removing 322 tonnes of plastic from landfill each year. Our everyday ALDI exclusive plates and bowls are made entirely of compostable sugar cane, and our cutlery is made from birchwood.
Packaging our everyday range of standard batteries in paper instead of plastic, removing approximately 17 tonnes of plastic waste each year.
Switching our cotton buds from a plastic to a paper stem, removing 357 million plastic stems from landfill each year.
Collaborating with our business partners to phase-out all polystyrene foam noodle cup packaging, which has been replaced with paper-based alternatives.
Transitioning Tandil Ultra Dishwashing Liquid to a 30% recycled bottle featuring a removable shrink sleeve to keep the recycling stream clean. This change in packaging saving 11.5 tonnes of plastic each year.
Packaging Sprinters Chips 20 pack in a cardboard outer box rather than a plastic bag, preventing 26.2 tonnes of soft plastic from entering the environment each year.
Replacing 339 tonnes of virgin plastic with recycled plastic packaging across our detergents, cleaners and personal care products. Many of your favourite ALDI cleaners and cleansers use recycled plastic in their packaging, so look out for the recycled content logo.

ALDI’s commitments to sustainable packaging

From our packaging to our products, ALDI is committed to minimising our impact on the environment. We are making small changes that have a big impact, including the move towards more recyclable packaging. We are a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), a co-regulatory not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia.

Here are the actions we are taking right now to create a more sustainable future.

ALDI says no to landfill

As part of our ongoing sustainability journey, ALDI has made a commitment to change our packaging for the better. We are working to reformulate the packaging of our exclusive brands to be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable. We are proud to say that 84% of our packaging currently meets this criteria.

Goodbye single-use plastics

ALDI is phasing out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics. In December 2021, we became the first Australian supermarket to begin replacing plastic straws on juice boxes with paper ones. This exciting innovation now means the paper straw can be pushed inside the juice box before being placed in the recycling bin. As of 2025, we have now successfully removed all plastic straws from our stores nationwide. We have also removed all plastic microbeads from our beauty product range.

Green is the new black

We are prioritising the reduction or replacement of difficult to recycle black plastic packaging. This is the kind of packaging that you often see on meat packs and ready-made meals. As of 2023, we have removed 64% of black plastic packaging across our range.

Stimulating a circular economy for materials

Being an exclusive brand retailer means we can directly influence the design of our products. We have ambitious goals to increase the circularity of our product packaging and continue to make progress on these goals, working closely with our producers and manufacturers to improve the sustainability of our packaging. As of 2023, we have achieved an average of 34% recycled content in total packaging.

Clear solutions

We will use the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on all ALDI-branded products. The ARL is displayed on more than 85% of ALDI-branded products and we will also continue to educate our customers about the importance of the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).

Learn More About ARL

Backing paper

All paper and pulp-based packaging in our everyday range has been FSC or PEFC certified, or made of minimum 70% recycled materials, since 2020. That means everything from egg cartons to big cardboard boxes are responsibly sourced.

Keeping you updated

ALDI is committed to being transparent about our progress on sustainable packaging. Read our annual Making Sustainability Affordable and APCO Report for more information.

ALDI’s 2024 Sustainability Progress Report

Read our annual Making Sustainability Affordable report to find out more about our sustainable packaging initiatives. 

Learn More

ALDI's latest APCO Report

For more information on our sustainable packaging progress, read our latest APCO report.

Learn More

ALDI phases out reusable plastic bags from all stores

ALDI has phased out reusable plastic bags from all stores and introduced a paper bag alternative, which is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and 100% kerbside recyclable.

This move offers customers a plastic-free option during their shop and will see more than 888 tonnes of plastic removed from circulation each year.

We know Aussies continue to make more conscious choices. ALDI has never provided free-of-charge plastic carrier bags, understanding that bringing your own bags every time you shop is the most sustainable option. When you can’t bring your own bags, we have paper bags available.

At the register, ALDI customers can choose from the following bag options:

The paper bag (25c), which is 100% kerbside recyclable
The robust Le Bag Recycle (99c), made from 80% recycled material, 60% of which is pallet wrap from ALDI warehouses (not available in SA and WA)
Cooler bag ($2.49)