Aldi has released its Making Sustainability Affordable report, revealing a 12 per cent reduction in plastic packaging since 2019, prevention of a further 5500 tonnes of plastic from entering circulation in 2022; and an 82 per cent diversion of waste from landfill.
The release of the report follows Aldi’s increasing customer growth, as Australians consumers look to make changes in household budgets and spending, with customers shopping at Aldi stores more often in the second quarter of 2023, up by 5.2 per cent, year-on-year.
Aldi Australia sustainability director Daniel Baker said that both new and current customers shopping at Aldi more often could be assured that ‘it doesn’t come at the expense of the planet.’
“We are keenly aware many customers are feeling the pinch right now. For us, we won’t be beaten on the cost of the weekly shop, but that simply doesn’t come at the expense of our commitment to our ambitious sustainability initiatives,” Baker said.
Plastic packaging removals
Throughout last year Aldi made a number of innovations to its product packaging to transition to more sustainable options, cutting plastic packaging by 5,500 tonnes, following its 2019 commitment to reduce plastic packaging by 25 per cent by 2025.
Aldi is now almost halfway to achieving the commitment, recording a 12.2 per cent reduction in plastic packaging across its range of exclusive brands since 2019. This reduction is equivalent to preventing a further 5,500 tonnes of plastic from entering circulation across the year.
“It’s difficult to ignore the negative impact plastic waste can have on our environment. We have a responsibility to reduce our use of plastic packaging, and this is a responsibility we take seriously at Aldi. In the same way we work with our supplier partners to ensure our top-notch product quality and affordable prices, we also work with them to innovate our packaging to ‘design-out’ plastic,” Baker said.
Sustainability an in-store focus
A New South Wales chiller door trial revealed a potential reduction in refrigeration energy usage of approximately 30 per cent. After the success of this trial, Aldi is expanding the trial to retrofit chiller doors in 15 additional stores across Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
“You wouldn’t leave your fridge door open at home. Data shows that there are significant energy savings seen in our stores when we put the doors on our chillers, and even though we are powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, we still are looking for ways to innovate in stores to reduce our electricity consumption. Most households would be aware of the rising electricity costs, so one way we can keep our prices low, is by keeping our expenses low. It’s good business, but ultimately good for the planet,” Baker said.
Landfill diversion and food rescue hand-in-hand
The Making Sustainability Affordable report recorded an 82 per cent diversion of waste from landfill, and contributed the equivalent of 8.75 million meals last year.
Baker said that Aldi rapidly grew its footprint of food rescue partners in 2022, in response to a growing need in the community, and to reduce food waste.
“At a time when household budgets continue to face very real pressures, it’s critical Aldi is not only delivering on our promise to provide Australia’s lowest priced groceries, but that we’re giving back to help those who are struggling.
“Further developing our food rescue program is enabling us to connect to more people in need across the country, as well as reducing food waste. We now partner with over 300 organisations, including Foodbank and OzHarvest who collect from Aldi’s stores and distribution centres nationally,” said Baker.
Powered by renewables
Aldi claims it was and is the first and only major Australian supermarket to fully power its operations using 100 per cent renewable electricity. This led to a reduction in Aldi’s operational emissions by 90 per cent in FY 2021 -2022, compared to FY 2020- 2021. Aldi’s renewable electricity commitment has now been verified by the Clean Energy Regulator’s Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency Report.
“We are proud of our achievements and progress, but we know there’s always more to be done, which is why we’re committed to continuous improvement and being transparent with our customers as we deliver on our sustainability goals,” Baker said.
