ALDI SOUTH Group (ASG)
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2015, 2021, 2022)
Reporting Period: 2015
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:1,385,000 tCO2e (2014)
Waste Generated:513,500 tonnes cardboard and paper; 13,700 tonnes plastic wrap (2015)
ESG Focus Areas
- Customers
- Supply Chain
- People
- Community
- Environment
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 8.6% between 2012 and 2014 despite expanding operations.
- Achieved carbon neutrality in Hofer Austria operations in 2016 through emission reductions, modernization, and renewable energy use.
- Increased the share of stores using refrigerants with a GWP < 2,200 from 14.8% in 2012 to 50.6% in 2015.
- Generated over 108 million kWh of electricity with own photovoltaic systems in 2015.
Social Achievements
- Introduced ALDI Social Assessments in China (2011) and expanded to Bangladesh (2013).
- Implemented the ALDI Factory Advancement (AFA) Project in Bangladesh, improving working conditions in 20 factories.
- Increased the share of products with certified cocoa from 23.83% in 2013 to 76.44% in 2015.
- Donated €12.1 million to social organizations in 2015.
Governance Achievements
- Newly approved ALDI Code of Conduct in 2015.
- Established independent points of contact (alert lines and ombudsmen) in all national organizations for reporting compliance violations.
Climate Goals & Targets
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions per square metre of sales area by 30% by 2020 (compared to 2012).
Short-term Goals:
- Use exclusively RSPO-certified palm oil in own-brand food products in all countries by the end of 2018.
Environmental Challenges
- Unsustainable fishing practices.
- Deforestation due to palm oil cultivation.
- Fair working conditions and environmental standards in sourcing countries.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the 30% reduction goal by 2020.
Mitigation Strategies
- Commitment to using sustainably produced palm oil (RSPO certified).
- Developed national buying policies for fish and seafood, using external expertise to evaluate sustainability.
- Implemented the ALDI Social Monitoring Programme and ALDI Factory Advancement Project.
- Investing in energy-efficient technology, renewable energy, and climate-friendly refrigerants.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 96.4% of production facilities audited in BSCI risk countries for textiles, shoes, and toys (2015)
Responsible Procurement
- ALDI “Social Standards in Production”
- Use of independent certifications (e.g., RSPO, FSC, PEFC, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, MSC, ASC).
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI G4, including the Sector Supplement Food Processing, application level “core”.
Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers AG
Awards & Recognition
- Green Cooling Leader (EIA, 2013, 2014)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Human Rights
- Resource Efficiency
- Zero Carbon
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced operational GHG emissions by 31% (2021 vs. 2016 baseline)
- Increased recycled content in own-brand plastic packaging to 18%
- Diverted 58% of food waste from landfill or incineration
- Diverted 88% of operational waste from landfill or incineration
- 99% of fish and seafood responsibly sourced
- 100% of palm (kernel) oil certified
- 99% of products containing certified cocoa
- 63% of cotton from sustainable sources
- 48% of shell eggs from cage-free supply chains
- 92% of timber from certified/recycled sources
- 100% of bananas and pineapples certified
Social Achievements
- Integrated all high-priority supply chains into Social Monitoring Programme
- Conducted ALDI Social Assessments and ALDI Producer Assessments
- Integrated all high-priority supply chains into Corporate Responsibility Supplier Evaluation (CRSE)
Governance Achievements
- Not disclosed
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable own-brand packaging by 2025
- Achieve 100% cage-free eggs by 2025
- Achieve 100% sustainable cotton by 2025
- Achieve 100% responsibly sourced fish and seafood by 2020
- Achieve 100% certified timber by 2021
- Achieve Net Zero Carbon Electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025
- Achieve 100% stores using more environmentally-friendly refrigerants by 2025
- Providing workers in all high-priority supply chains access to a grievance mechanism by 2025
- Providing workers in all high-priority supply chains access to remedy by 2030
- Aligning our CR requirements and processes with the UNGPs by 2025
- Implementing responsible purchasing practices across selected high-priority supply chains by 2030
- Integrating all high-priority supply chains into our CR Supplier Evaluation (CRSE) by 2027
Medium-term Goals:
- Increase the recycled content used in our plastic product packaging to 30% by 2030
- Reduce the amount of virgin plastic in our-own brand packaging by 40% by 2025
- Divert 90% of food and operational waste from landfill or incineration by 2030
- Ensure good water stewardship practices by 2030
- Eliminate overfishing, bycatch and ecosystem damage in our fish and seafood supply chains by 2030
- Eliminate deforestation and conversion of natural ecosystems from our high-priority supply chains by 2030
- Implementing carbon reduction projects in selected supply chains by 2025
- Sourcing 80% of buying volume from responsible suppliers by 2030
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce own-brand packaging weight by 15% by 2025
- Make all own-brand packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025
- Reduce operational GHG emissions by 26% by 2025
- Increase the number of sustainable products by an additional 10% by 2025
- Verify the chemical management performance of all strategic production facilities for garment, home textile and shoes by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Not disclosed
Mitigation Strategies
- Not disclosed
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Not disclosed
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Null
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:771,614 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:436,421 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:3,451 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:331,742 tCO2e/year (external logistics only)
Renewable Energy Share:0.16% of ASG emissions from electricity consumption
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 63% compared to 2016 (overachieving the 26% target).
- Reduced total operational emissions (including external logistics) by 46% compared to 2016.
- Reduced electricity-related emissions significantly by switching to green electricity and installing solar panels on 2,357 buildings.
- 93% of refrigerants used had a GWP of less than 2,200.
Social Achievements
- Not disclosed
Governance Achievements
- Not disclosed
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Zero Carbon
Medium-term Goals:
- Strategic suppliers to set science-based emissions targets by 2024.
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 26% by 2025 (compared to 2016).
- Replace all refrigerants with GWP > 2,200 with lower GWP alternatives by 2025.
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing Scope 3 emissions (99% of total GHG emissions are from the value chain).
- Reducing fuel-related emissions (57% of operational emissions).
Mitigation Strategies
- Working with suppliers to encourage emission reduction across supply chains and setting science-based targets.
- Implementing emission reduction projects in collaboration with supply chain partners.
- Switching to alternative fuel types (HVO and electricity) for transportation.
- Improving fuel efficiency and providing driver training.
- Joining the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC).
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Working with suppliers to encourage emission reduction and setting science-based targets.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Greenhouse Gas Protocol
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Independent third-party review
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed