The supermarket chain is also taking a number of other steps to help combat the global plastics catastrophe.

Sometimes when I am in a large supermarket I do a little thought experiment that goes like this: I imagine all the food and products in the entire store removed from their packaging – what would we be left with? I then picture the two mountains; a smaller mountain of food and products that will mostly be consumed, and a much, much larger mountain of packaging trash, much of which will end up in the landfill and oceans. It's a good exercise for me because the vision always sends me straight to the bulk bins.

In a way, the big supermarket chains are the gatekeepers for much of what the country consumes. They are the link between the manufacturers and the consumers, and as such, are able to have a large potential impact on things like plastic packaging and waste.

Which brings us to news from ALDI US, a chain with more than 1,800 U.S. stores in 35 states, and that serves more than 40 million customers each month. The company has announced new commitments to plastic packaging reduction.

According to a press statement, the company is uniquely positioned to influence how its products are sourced, produced and brought to shelves because more than 90 percent of the store's range is ALDI-exclusive. The company plans to reach the following set of goals by working with its suppliers:

Sustainable Packaging Goals



