Aldi stores in County Durham are set to get a new look for their fruit and veg to help the environment.

The supermarket chain is trialling a new initiative, offering certain fruits and vegetables without packaging in a bid to cut back on waste.

Items that will now be available loose in the stores are parsnips, carrots, broccoli, brown and red onions, ginger, pears, salad tomatoes, limes, lemons, oranges, and garlic.

Luke Emery, the national sustainability director at Aldi, said: "We are constantly looking for new ways to reduce unnecessary packaging and this trial is another example of the significant steps we’re taking in this area.

"By trialling these packaging-free produce lines, we hope this encourages customers to make more environmentally friendly choices when shopping in store.

"By helping shoppers to buy just what they need, we’re not just reducing packaging, but helping to cut food waste too."

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If this trial proves successful and is rolled out across all Aldi stores, it could see the removal of an estimated 445 tonnes of unnecessary packaging each year, contributing to a reduction in food waste.

The initiative extends beyond County Durham, with stores in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear also participating in the trial this month.

Catherine David, director of behaviour change and business programmes at WRAP, added: "WRAP’s ambition is for 50 per cent of uncut fruit and veg to be sold loose by the end of 2030 so it’s fantastic to see Aldi selling more loose produce.

"A household of four throws away on average £1,000 of food each year, costing the planet’s precious resources, and people’s pockets.

"By selling more items loose, people will be able to buy only what they need, save money and cut the use of single-use packaging - a real win-win-win."

Aldi already offers loose produce options on a number of ranges, including potatoes, peppers, and avocados.