Sustainable Biz #5 - Magazine - Page 13
Aldi slashes food waste by almost
60% and sets new 2030 target
ldi has announced a 57% reduction
in its food waste*, meaning it has
hit its 2030 target eight years early.
The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket
announced this latest milestone as it
published its inaugural sustainability report,
which offers insights into the work Aldi is
doing that contributes to society and the
planet, while maintaining its commitment to
quality and affordability.
A
Since 2019, Aldi has donated 40 million
meals to good causes via its charity partner
Neighbourly and has donated one million
meals this festive season alone.
Aldi’s sustainability report also highlights
the success of its new eco concept store,
which it opened last year as part of its
efforts to significantly reduce emissions in
its operations while making it easier for
shoppers to reduce, reuse and recycle.
The business had committed to reduce food
waste by 20% by 2025 (relative to a 2017
baseline) and to halve food waste by 2030, in
line with the Courtauld 2030 and UN SDG
Champions 12.3 commitments.
As it has achieved both targets already, Aldi
has revised its current target and is aiming
to reduce food waste by 90% by 2030**.
The store is trialling refill fixtures to help
customers shop more sustainably and is
using energy saving initiatives such as solar
panels and chiller doors to reduce energy
consumption. Meanwhile, redesigning the
building structure has also helped reduce
overall energy demand by 57%.
It is working to prevent waste in its
operations and is working with food
distribution companies like Company
Shop Group to redistribute food where any
waste does occur. The supermarket also
announced its partnership with the world’s
largest surplus food platform Too Good To
Go earlier this year.
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at
Aldi UK, said: “We’re dedicated to taking
steps that positively impact the environment
and we know one area where we can have
a big impact is food waste. “This has never
been more important – not only for the
planet, but in helping people get access
to food that’s both high-quality and
affordable.
"We’re proud of the
progress we’re making,
which we’re pleased
to share in our first
sustainability report,
and that’s why we’re
looking to push
ourselves even further."
Liz Fox, National
Sustainability Director
"As we continue to expand our footprint
and broaden our customer base, we want
to continue to do so in a sustainable and
responsible way. More information on Aldi’s
sustainability report can be found here:
Corporate Responsibility – ALDI UK.
*Food waste as a percentage of total food
sales, otherwise known as food waste
intensity
**Target relates to food waste intensity
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