Family-owned Lovania Nurseries, has revealed it will cut more than 200 tonnes of non-recyclable black plastic per year from its operations after securing a new five-year supply deal with Aldi.
The Preston business has committed to converting all its plant trays to rPET, which is made of recycled materials and is easily recyclable, enabling Aldi customers to dispose of the used packaging in household kerbside collections.
Lovania supplies plants and bulbs to horticultural businesses and major retailers, and has been in partnership Aldi for more than 20 years. The new long-term supply deal will enable the business to invest in packaging and machinery to improve efficiencies.
Lee Chambers, Head of Sales, at Lovania, said: “We’ve come a long way since our business began, and continued investment from Aldi is encouraging us to grow and modernise more than ever before.
“We understand the importance of operating in a sustainable way and moving all our cell pack trays is the first step for us to becoming more environmentally friendly.”
The announcement follows recent environmentally-friendly initiatives from Aldi, including plans to be carbon neutral by 2019 and to ensure all its packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility, at Aldi UK, said: “We’ve set some ambitious plastic reduction targets and are pleased to see our suppliers working with us to find solutions and help to achieve our goals.
“Many of our customers are avid gardeners and these products will help them to cut single-use plastic from their green spaces.”
