The ACCC has completed its investigation into ALDI’s ‘flushable’ wipes and will take no further action after ALDI stopped selling its personal hygiene wipes and removed potentially misleading claims from its bathroom cleaning wipes packaging.

In July this year, the ACCC raised concerns with ALDI regarding its promotion of certain ‘flushable’ wipes products. At the time, ALDI was promoting the Green Action Flushable Bathroom Cleaning Wipes (100pk) in its Special Buys catalogue.

The product included claims that the wipes were ‘flushable’ and able to ‘disintegrate in the sewage system’. ALDI responded to the ACCC’s concerns by removing the product from sale.

“The ACCC raised concerns with ALDI about the use of the term ‘flushable’ on its wipes packaging, as this claim may mislead consumers if it cannot be substantiated. Australian water authorities face significant problems when non-suitable products are flushed down the toilet as they contribute to blockages in household and municipal sewerage systems,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ALDI has now advised the ACCC that it has removed the word ‘flushable’ from its bathroom cleaning wipes and added the instruction ‘do not flush’. ALDI has also removed its personal hygiene flushable wipes from sale.

“We’re pleased that ALDI has added a ‘do not flush’ message for consumers making it clear that the bathroom cleaning wipes it is still selling should be disposed of in a rubbish bin instead of a toilet. We welcome their action in addressing our concerns,” Mr Sims said.

Notes to editors

The ACCC has separate proceedings against each of Pental and Kimberly-Clark Australia currently before the Federal Court in which the ACCC alleges that misleading ‘flushable’ claims were made.

One of the ACCC allegations in these proceedings is that the wipes products are not flushable as they do not disintegrate like toilet paper when flushed.

The ACCC has also been in contact with other suppliers of similar products in Australia to convey its position on ‘flushable’ claims.