Aldi to remove foil sleeves from own-brand wine bottles

Aldi is rolling out a packaging reduction initiative across its own-label wine range in the UK by removing foil sleeves from corked bottles. The move follows a successful trial that began in March 2024 and will be implemented across all relevant products by the end of the year.

The decision to eliminate the protective sleeves, which are made from a combination of aluminium and plastic, is expected to prevent approximately 38 tonnes of packaging waste annually.

The change will apply to 46 different wines, including Côtes du Rhone, Rioja Reserva, and Atlantique Rosé.

By removing the non-essential packaging element, Aldi aims to make its wine range more sustainable while maintaining product quality.

Aldi UK national sustainability director Luke Emery said: We know that sustainability is a priority for our customers, and we’re always looking for new ways to reduce packaging and offer more sustainable choices. Launching wines with naked corks is a step in the right direction, and we’re proud to be the first supermarket to introduce this change across our entire range of own-brand quality corked wines.

The initiative is part of the supermarket’s wider efforts to reduce packaging waste across its product lines.

In June 2024, Aldi introduced recycled plastic for its own-label crisp packaging.