ALDI first supermarket to stop selling disposable barbecues in all UK stores

Aldi has become the first UK supermarket to ban the sale of disposable barbecues nationwide, in a bid to protect the nation’s forests and wildlife.

The ban across all its stores will also lead to the removal of approximately 35 tonnes of single-use waste packaging.

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and know that many of our shoppers are increasingly looking to do the same.

“We hope customers can embrace our latest move and still want them to enjoy their summer picnics and barbecues. As an alternative, we would encourage customers to opt for more environmentally friendly and sustainable options such as mini portable barbecues, ensuring they are used responsibly.”

Amanda Craig, Director of People & Nature at Natural England, said: “We welcome any step that helps people act more responsibly whilst enjoying the countryside, and encourage everyone to follow the Countryside Code when spending time outdoors. This includes only using BBQs in places where signs specify they are permitted to better protect people, property and wildlife”

Aldi previously stopped selling disposable barbecues at its Buxton store, located close to the Peak District National Park, in June 2021. Introducing the ban across all stores is Aldi’s latest move towards reducing its impact on the environment. The supermarket has been carbon neutral since January 2019 and is also on track for all its own-label product packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by the end of 2022. 

In June, Co-op announced they were withdrawing instant BBQs from sale in their stores situated in or within a one-mile radius of all UK National Parks, in a move designed to help prevent devastating wildfires.