ALDI strives to bring sustainable and responsibly sourced products onto everybody’s plate
Our new vision is to “make sustainability affordable to our customers” by 2030. Whilst this is an ambitious goal, we think it is achievable by taking one clearly defined step after the other and working with strong partners.
Our new International CR Strategy reflects the need to use a global perspective, when faced with global challenges. We focus on four international areas: respecting human rights, improving resource efficiency, realising zero carbon and being an employer of choice, and combine them with national activities to meet our customers’ everyday needs and support local communities.
We took a risk-based approach when developing our new strategy. We wanted to focus on those supply chains with high sustainability risks and high leverage. This enables us to address global social and environmental problems where they are most pressing, and where we have the greatest impact on people and the environment.
Upholding human rights
Our first international focus area is about respecting “human rights”. Our aim is to actively improve living and working conditions throughout our high-priority supply chains (e.g. cocoa, fish and seafood, textiles). On the one hand, it is important to make our supply chains transparent and to have a better understanding about the origin of the products we sell. Whilst at the same time, ensuring that the rights of workers, who contribute to these supply chains, are respected and their working conditions improved. In this context, the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) is not only a valuable partner for change, but also supports us in identifying and developing measures to effectively support workers in our supply chains.
As a global player, we want to be seen as an advocate for workers; we have a loud voice, and we are willing to speak up to drive change. We are excited about supporting the new EU Human Rights Due Diligence legislation and in our opinion partnering and collaborating are essential in order to have a real impact. Through joint initiatives and projects on the ground, we aim to make a positive progress for workers and their families.
A good example of successful cooperation and responsible sourcing is our brand new chocolate bar, the Choceur “CHOCO CHANGER”. ALDI has joined Tony's Open Chain and together we are strengthening the positive effects on cocoa farmers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire and setting a new benchmark in the cocoa supply chain in terms of transparency, secured income and improved livelihood for farmers. The cocoa, sugar and vanilla in the chocolate bars are Fairtrade certified and sourced from Fairtrade producers. By paying the farmers an extra premium on top, we go beyond certification and enable a living income.
