"Scandal": Aldi throws reusable bottles from the range after the test phase - and causes outrage

In around 50 Aldi branches, beer and water have been available in returnable glass bottles since February.

That’s over now.

• In February of this year, Aldi Süd started a reusable experiment at selected locations - the motto was glass instead of plastic.

• The test run for the discounter is over after around six months.

• Aldi Süd is now relying fully on plastic bottles again.

  Environmentalists are appalled by this step.

The

* Süd has made sustainability a priority.

Climate, environment, supply chains - people are committed everywhere, the grocer advertises on its own website, among other things.

But now

Süd * has made a decision that outraged environmentalists.

It wasn't until February that the

a reusable bottle test, as the “Lebensmittelzeitung” first reported at the time.

Beer and water in glass bottles were added to the range in around 50 Aldi branches * in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Reusable instead of disposable plastic.

But now, only about six months later, the

saying goodbye to

this concept, according to a report in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.

The glass disappears; instead,

only uses disposable bottles again.

After all, the ecological balance of the one-way bottles has improved significantly, argues the

.

German environmental aid calls Aldi Süd's decision a "scandal"

Environmentalists outraged this decision.

The

(DUH) speaks to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" of a "scandal" and sharply criticizes that

- as well as competitor

- now completely relies on disposable bottles again.

In addition, according to the Federal Environment Agency (Uba), the reusable quota for beverages is now at an all-time low - at 41.2 percent (as of 2018).

According to the Uba, this is also due to the

.

Aldi Süd does not want to rule out reusable systems in the future

Süd once again confirmed its decision

to “Spiegel”

not to want to use reusable products for the time being: “After the test phase, we decided not to pursue this concept for the time being”, according to a statement from the

.

Nevertheless,

wants to

reserve the right to check again in the future whether reusable systems are an option.

*