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“Moving our beer and cider to card packaging is another step in our fight against unwanted plastic,” says Aldi. Credit: Aldi

Budget supermarket chain Aldi has decided to remove all the plastic packaging from its own-brand four-pack beer and cider products.  

The retailer has replaced the traditional plastic shrink wrap and rings used on its beer and cider packs with a more sustainable alternative – cardboard. Aldi said that this cardboard packaging can be recycled at home.  

The change comes as part of the retailer’s continued efforts to minimise its overall environmental impact by developing sustainable packaging for its own-label products across the UK.  

The introduction of these cardboard packs is expected to eliminate approximately 95 tonnes (t) of plastic packaging waste generated annually.  

Australia’s Allan Labor Government has launched the Container Deposit Scheme in Victoria (CDS Vic) with plans to cut litter by up to 50%. 

Launched by Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos, CDS Vic enables state-based citizens to return their eligible drink cans, bottles, and cartons at refund points in exchange for ten cents.  

Eligible containers can be returned at reverse vending machines, depots, over-the-counter sites, and even pop-up refund points. Depending on the type of refund point, Victorians can either receive the refund in cash, as a retail voucher, or as an electronic refund.  

Participants can also choose to donate their refund to a charity or community organisation that is registered with the scheme. This network of refund points to recycle containers is set to continue to grow in 2024.  

Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP) has teamed up with the National Cup Recycling Scheme to launch a new single-use paper cup recycling initiative in Scotland, UK.  

The announcement was shared by Scottish environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, which also coordinates HCWP. The initiative will involve introducing new ‘Cup Box’ infrastructure in the Scottish Highlands region, provided by Valpak. The Cup Box, which can hold up to 700 paper cups, can be purchased by companies, workplaces, community hubs, and businesses that sell single-use cups in the region. 

Companies interested in taking part in the pilot programme will receive two free boxes to try out along with the necessary guidance and campaign materials.  

Participating companies/individuals can then arrange a courier via Valpak’s website to pick up the Cup Box for recycling once it has been filled.

Ardagh Glass Packaging-North America (AGP-North America), a part of the Ardagh Group, has recently renewed its supply agreement with Oliver Winery, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest wineries. 

This agreement solidifies their ongoing partnership and ensures that the majority of Oliver Winery’s wine bottles will continue to be manufactured by AGP-North America.  

This renewed supply agreement strengthens the connection between Oliver Winery, known as the 28th largest winery in the US and AGP-North America, a prominent supplier of glass bottles for the US wine market.  

The geographical proximity plays a significant role in this collaboration, as AGP-North America’s headquarters is situated in Fishers, Indiana, a mere 65 miles away from Oliver Winery in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Detox and nutritional supplement brand Touchstone Essentials has chosen to adopt bio-PPE pouches for its organic superfood powder line.  

The company has replaced its previously used plastic canisters with bio-PPE pouches as part of its sustainable efforts to lower its carbon footprint and the amount of plastic in the environment.  

Touchstone made this transition by collaborating with Grounded, a packaging manufacturer that produces environmentally friendly pouches using its patented SugarFlex biobased non-genetically modified organism technology.  

The bio-PPE pouches are being currently used for Touchstone’s Super Green Juice organic powder, Organic Super Protein plant-based protein mix, and Organic Super Fiber superfood-based fibre blend.