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Reusable bag for veggies

Packaging

Our Approach

Product packaging plays an important role in protecting our products from damage and environmental influences in order to ensure quality of our products and to avoid food waste. However, we are aware that packaging can pose a threat to the environment if managed incorrectly and not integrated into the recycling process.

To tackle this issue, we have set ourselves ambitious goals aimed at increasing material efficiency and circularity of our ALDI own-brand product packaging. We are working with our business partners to push for more environmental-friendly packaging options across our product range. By adhering to the internationally recognised and legally established waste hierarchy, we strive to

  • avoid oversized or unnecessary packaging material,
  • maximise recyclability, and
  • increase recycled content in our plastic packaging.

Our Actions

Working with experts

In collaboration with external experts, we have developed an international guideline for environmentally responsible product packaging, which includes recommendations and examples for evaluating sustainable product packaging. This guideline is based on the international waste hierarchy.

Reduce reuse recycle

Sustainable packaging innovations

TechForunds Accelator Programme
ALDI SOUTH Germany supports startups to promote innovative packaging solutions in collaboration with the Accelerator Programme TechFounders.

The evaluation and implementation of environmentally responsible product packaging across the ALDI SOUTH Group is conducted in cooperation with our business partners. We work with our suppliers on sustainable packaging innovations in order to be informed of current developments and possibilities for improvements in this sector.

Our Projects & Memberships

People standing in front of Plastic Bank
Copyright: Climate Partner
Project in the Philippines
Fight against plastic

According to our CR Principles, the ALDI SOUTH Group is striving to be a carbon-neutral company. Following a significant reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the use of renewable energy across the Group, several ALDI SOUTH countries are climate neutral. Carbon offsets make up for the rest by funding environmental projects.

To continue to deliver against our broader climate target, we are supporting an environmentally-focused project.

Fight against plastic in the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and Haiti

Over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste flows into the ocean each year - the equivalent of one truckload per minute. ‘Plastic Bank’ fights against the increasing amount of plastic in the world‘s oceans by offering money for plastic. The plastic is then recycled and turned into new products. At the same time, a wind farm project in the Philippines is supported to realize the actual reduction of carbon emissions.

Copyright: Climate Partner
More: Plastic Bank
Women holding empty pesticide containers
© Cotton made in Africa
Project in Mozambique
Cotton made in Africa recycling project

In 2019, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and the local cotton company SAN-JFS developed a recycling project in Mozambique. This project supports women from local farming communities who operate eco-collection points. Over 72,000 empty pesticide containers were collected and sent for recycling in the first year and benefitted up to 20,000 farmers. With the exclusive support of ALDI, the project is able to continue into a second phase and benefit even more farmers.

© Cotton made in Africa

 

More: Cotton made in Africa
Holy Grail 2.0 Logo
Since 2022
HolyGrail 2.0

The Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0, driven by AIM - European Brands Association and powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, is a pilot project with the objective to prove the technical viability of digital watermarks for accurate sorting of packaging waste as well as the economic viability of the business case at large-scale. Digital watermarks are imperceptible codes, the size of a postage stamp, covering the surface of a consumer goods packaging and carrying a wide range of attributes. ALDI joined the initiative in 2022.

The aim is that once the packaging has entered into a waste sorting facility, the digital watermark can be detected and decoded by a high-resolution camera on the sorting line, which then – based on the transferred attributes (e.g. food vs non-food) – is able to sort the packaging in corresponding streams. This would result in better and more accurate sorting streams, thus consequently in higher quality recyclates benefitting the complete packaging value chain.

More: HolyGrail 2.0
© The Consumer Goods Forum
© The Consumer Goods Forum
Working Group
Plastic Waste Coalition (CGF)

In 2021, the ALDI SOUTH Group became a member of The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) Coalition of Action on Plastic Waste. The Coalition was founded in 2020 with the aim of developing a more circular approach to the development and processing of plastic packaging in the consumer goods industry.

As a CEO-led group of 36 committed and innovative retailers and manufacturers, the Coalition’s vision of accelerating progress towards the New Plastics Economy is embodied by its central aims for members to work towards implementing impactful measures through multi-stakeholder collaborations that will help make circularity the norm in the industry.

© The Consumer Goods Forum

 

More: Plastic Waste Coalition
RecyClass Logo
Since 2022
RecyClass

RecyClass is a comprehensive cross-industry initiative that works to advance plastic packaging recyclability and to establish a harmonized approach towards recycled content calculation and its traceability in Europe. Activities within RecyClass include the development of Recyclability Evaluation Protocols and scientific testing methods for innovative materials which serve as the base for the Design for Recycling Guidelines and the Recycling Online Tool. RecyClass offers Recyclability Certifications for plastic packaging and Recycled Content Traceability Certification for plastic products. ALDI joined the initiative in 2022.

More: RecyClass

Sustainable Development Goals

9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure 12 Responsible consumption and production 14 Life below water 15 Life on land 17 Partnerships for the goals

UNGC

Environment

Principle 7

Precautionary approach to environmental challenges

Principle 8

Promote environmental responsibility

Principle 9

Development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

GRI references

GRI 103: Management approach 2016

Global Reporting Initiative 103-1 Global Reporting Initiative 103-2 Global Reporting Initiative 103-3