(TNS) — Shoppers will have to plan ahead before shopping at Aldi.
In addition to a shopping list, customers will need to bring their own bags.
The grocery chain said it will no longer put your groceries in plastic bags so customers will have to bring their own reusable bags or purchase one in the store.
“At Aldi, we’re raising the bar on sustainability without raising prices for you, our shoppers,” said Jason Hart, CEO.
Hart said Aldi is “the first major U.S. retailer to eliminate plastic shopping bags from our more than 2,300 stores.”
Removing plastic bags from stores in some states is required. Stores such as Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club don’t offer bags, Walmart stores in some states eliminated them as did Wegmans. Pittsburgh banned the use of plastic bags last fall.
Hart said the effort at Aldi will save more than 4,400 tons of plastic from circulation each year.
“Shopping with a reusable bag is a small but mighty way we can all support a healthier planet,” Hart said.
In addition, he said Aldi has a goal of transitioning to natural refrigerants across all U.S. stores by 2035.
“Environmentally friendly refrigeration systems help keep our products fresh while limiting our impact on the planet. We already use environmentally friendly refrigerants in more than 600 stores, which has helped ALDI save nearly 60% of potential carbon emissions each year and earn recognition from the EPA GreenChill program for five consecutive years.”
