Major grocery chain removes plastic shopping bags

Major grocery chain removes plastic shopping bags

Plastic shopping bags are on their way out at Aldi. The discount grocery retailer announced that it will no longer offer customers the option to purchase plastic shopping bags.

In a news release, ALDI also announced it met a goal to remove all plastic shopping bags by the end of 2023. The grocer says it’s the first major U.S. retailer to eliminate plastic shopping bags from its more than 2,300 stores. According to the release, the decision to remove plastic shopping bags will prevent nearly 4,400 tons of plastic from going into circulation each year.

ALDI also unveiled a new goal to transition to natural refrigerants across all U.S. stores before the end of 2035 as an effort to keep its products fresh while supporting a healthier planet. The goal builds on the grocer’s use of environmentally friendly refrigerants in more than 600 stores, helping ALDI save nearly 60% of potential carbon emissions each year.