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Mountain scenery

Zero Carbon

Our Vision 2030: 

Doing our part to limit global warming.

Our Approach

Our business activities have a significant impact on climate and the environment. This is a result not only of the products we sell, but also our business operations. Our goal is to minimise the ecological footprint of our corporate activities by lowering our greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that the products we offer do not have a detrimental impact on the environment.

As part of our wider commitment to minimise the impact of our products, we will also work with our business partners to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate protection projects in our supply chains.

Our Actions

International Climate Strategy

In July 2020, the ALDI SOUTH Group became one of the first international food retailers with a company-wide approved “Science Based Target” (SBT) for climate protection. We aim to reduce our overall operational emissions by more than a quarter by 2025. At the same time, the ALDI SOUTH Group is proud to partner with suppliers who share its values. That is why we are also committed to encouraging our strategic suppliers, which are responsible for 75% of product related emissions, to work towards setting science-based emissions targets by 2024. With these measures, the Group is working towards its vision of ‘zero carbon‘.

Anke Ehlers

“We strive to become a climate-neutral company. We are already taking a big step in this direction with our science-based target, which we want to achieve by 2025.”

Anke Ehlers, Managing Director Corporate Responsibility International of the ALDI SOUTH Group

In 2021, the ALDI SOUTH Group overachieved its absolute target, by reducing its operational emissions by 54% (base year: 2016). When including external logistics providers, who share a significant portion of the transport between our regional distribution centres (RDCs) and stores, the reduction is still -38%.

Climate protection has been a major focus of the ALDI SOUTH Group for many years. In 2014, we adopted our first international climate strategy with the relative goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by its national markets by 30% per square metre of sales area. The results speak for themselves – not only did all countries overachieve the target before the deadline, ALDI has also continuously improved energy efficiency.

  • Large parts of our cooling systems are now using natural refrigerants and 95% of electricity is coming from renewable energy sources.
  • Almost 2,300 of the 6,900 stores worldwide have already been fitted with photovoltaic systems on the roofs.
  • Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, the United Kingdom and Ireland offset remaining emissions via certified climate protection projects.

The ambitious climate targets reinforce our endeavours to make a positive and valuable contribution to global climate protection.

Reducing our impact on the climate

Calculating our Carbon Footprint

We monitor progress towards our International Climate Strategy by calculating our Company Carbon Footprint for all of our business processes and locations in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Renewable energy

To protect the climate, we use renewable energy in all countries where we operate. We have increased the share of renewable energy usage in electricity consumption significantly over the past years, from 34% in 2016 to 95% in 2021. Additionally, we are generating electricity with photovoltaic systems on the roofs of almost 2,300 stores and 48 distribution centres worldwide.

Efficient logistics

ALDI truck on the road

Efficient logistics ensure that our customers have access to our full product range and fresh items every day. Following store operations, our transport logistics are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

We focus on conserving fuel in our logistics operations by optimising trailer capacity utilisation, implementing highly economical route planning, and operating a modern fleet of vehicles. Our drivers are also provided with training to promote efficient driving behaviour.

Modern refrigeration technology

Modern refrigeration technology

The refrigeration technology used in our stores, regional distribution centres, and logistics vehicles critically influences the ability to achieve our climate protection goals. Refrigeration systems are responsible for a large share of our energy consumption. Using modern, environmentally sound, and climate-friendly refrigerants is essential to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2021, we were using a refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 2,200 for medium-temperature refrigeration in 91% of our stores. We aim to replace all refrigerants with a GWP of more than 2,200 by an alternative refrigerant with a lower GWP by 2025.

Supplier Engagement

Since 2021, we have been conducting annual supplier surveys on their climate commitment to monitor our suppliers’ progress to set climate targets, and identify which suppliers need support in joining our climate protection journey. The results of 2022 show that strategic suppliers, who are responsible for 22% of our product-related emissions, either have a target in line with the criteria of the Science Based Targets initiative or are committed to set themselves science-based targets within the next two years.

Our Objectives & Performance

Focus area: Zero Carbon

By measuring our Corporate Responsibility objectives and performance on a regular basis, we are continuously validating the effectiveness of our actions, highlighting the areas where we are already making progress and identifying areas where further action is still required. As a global retailer, we want to use our global buying power and market influence to create lasting change for a better future. We focus our activities on high-priority raw materials and commodity groups.

Our Projects

Amazon

Project in Brazil

Forest protection

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.

Cook stoves
fietzfotos | Pixabay

Project in Ghana

Clean cook stoves

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.

People carrying water
SZappi | Pixabay

Project in Uganda

Clean drinking water

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.

Solar panels

Project in India

Solar energy

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.

People standing in front of Plastic Bank
Copyright: Climate Partner

Project in Haiti

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.

More: Plastic Bank
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.

More: Plastic Bank
People standing in front of Plastic Bank
Copyright: Climate Partner

Project in Indonesia

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.

More: Plastic Bank
People standing in front of Plastic Bank
Copyright: Climate Partner

Project in Brazil

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.

More: Plastic Bank

Our Memberships

Logo of Science Based Targets Initiative
Since 2020
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets.

More on 'Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)'
GLEC
Since 2022
Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC)

At the beginning of 2022, the ALDI SOUTH Group joined the “Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC)”. The membership will help ALDI navigate key business barriers by taking part in Council projects that will support the move towards a zero emissions global freight and logistics sector.

At ALDI, we understand that our business activities have a significant impact on climate and the environment. Our goal is to minimise the ecological footprint of our corporate activities. Efficient logistics are key to ensuring that customers have access to our full range and fresh items every day. After our store operations, transport logistics is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and that’s why the ALDI SOUTH Group has become the first grocery retailer to join the Smart Freight CentresGlobal Logistics Emissions Council”.

The Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is an international non-profit organisation focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation. Their goal is to work collaboratively with businesses and other interested organisations to measure the impacts of freight, identify solutions, and support an organisations logistics decarbonisation strategy.

More: Smart Freight Centre

Sustainable Development Goals

7 Affordable and clean energy 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure 11 Sustainable cities and communities 12 Responsible consumption and production 13 Climate action 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

GRI 302: Energy 2016

Global Reporting Initiative 302-4

GRi 305: Emissions 2016

Global Reporting Initiative 305-5