The news comes after Aldi in Germany revealed plans to charge a ‘symbolic cent’ in order to make customers ‘rethink’ their use of smaller plastic bags. It’s believed that the German stores will start offering nets and reusable alternatives to shoppers for holding their fruit and veg later in the year.
But while Aldi are committed to making the change for environmental reasons, the news has sparked mixed reviews on social media.
Some customers are unhappy about the change, claiming that it’s ‘confusing’ given that Aldi sell so many pre-packaged fruit and vegetables already wrapped in plastic.
‘I’m not a regular Aldi shopper, but last time I was there, most of the fruit and vegetables were already packaged in plastic,’ said one.
Adds another: ‘Yet they package a whole heap of stuff in plastic wrap?? Makes more sense to stop the plastic packaging & let customers choose how much they want to purchase.’
Others were skeptical, with one shopper calling it a ‘joke.’
Wrote one: ‘I never put unwrapped produce directly into trolley. So in hygienic... Kids sitting in trolleys and have seen mothers changing their babies in them. The charge for plastic bags is just a joke on consumers. I will bet that whoever thought of charging for bags has some interest in a business that manufactures these recycled bags.’
Added another: ‘So that will rounded up to 5c.’ Said a third: ‘Coles and Woolies will follow suit next, more ways to make money.’
But many welcomed the news, agreeing it was good to Aldi adopting more green approach to plastic waste.
‘About time! I was actually talking to my green grocer about the plastic bags & how useless & wasteful the plastic produce bags were. He actually started the conversation when he seen the reusable ones I had made,’ said one. Added another: ‘We managed without them in the past, we can in the future too. I just have a separate bag for loose produce, it's not hard- bringing bags anyway!’
Said one more: ‘I don't get what the fuss is about. I never use them anyway. Everything I buy goes to the trolley and then straight to my cloth bags after check out.’
Added one more: ‘Never use them now so no skin off my nose.’
