Aldi has made a significant stride in its sustainability efforts by announcing a remarkable 57 percent reduction in food waste, surpassing its 2030 target eight years ahead of schedule.
This achievement was revealed as Aldi unveiled its inaugural sustainability report, shedding light on its endeavours to contribute to society and the environment while upholding its commitment to quality and affordability.
Originally aiming to decrease food waste by 20 percent by 2025 and halve it by 2030, aligning with the Courtauld 2030 and UN SDG Champions 12.3 commitments, Aldi has met and exceeded these goals. Consequently, the supermarket has set a new target to reduce food waste by an ambitious 90 percent by 2030.
Aldi has diligently mitigated waste throughout its operations and partnered with food distribution firms like Company Shop Group to redistribute surplus food. Additionally, it recently joined forces with Too Good To Go, the world's largest surplus food platform.
Moreover, since 2019, Aldi has contributed 40 million meals to charitable causes through its partnership with Neighbourly, with an additional one million meals donated this festive season alone.
The sustainability report highlights the success of Aldi's eco-concept store, launched last year to cut emissions while promoting sustainable shopping habits significantly. The store features refill fixtures to facilitate eco-friendly shopping and implements energy-saving measures such as solar panels and chiller doors. Structural redesigns have also led to a 57 percent reduction in overall energy demand.
Liz Fox, Aldi UK's National Sustainability Director, emphasised the company's dedication to environmental impact reduction, particularly in addressing food waste, which is crucial in ensuring access to high-quality, affordable food.
CEO Giles Hurley emphasised Aldi's commitment to making sustainability accessible to all, stating that responsible business practices can coexist with unbeatable prices. He pledged continued transparency in reporting Aldi's sustainability progress in the future.
