SBIA PARTNER PROFILE ALDI
Supporting Sustainable Communities From reducing packaging and food waste, to providing grants to charities in local communities, Aldi are supporting a move towards a more sustainable society.
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ldi recognises the impact that their business activities can have on the environment and communities around them. Their shortlisted initiatives this year range from working towards reducing operational food waste by 50% by 2030, to supporting local communities through a grant scheme, and working towards a sustainable circular economy. PRIMARY PARTNER Aldi donates edible surplus food to local charities and community organisations via FoodCloud. Aldi’s primary aim is to provide as much support for their charity partner FoodCloud, whilst reducing food waste from stores. In 2020, Aldi aimed to hit the 2 million meal donation mark, which they succeeded by finishing the year with 2.1 million meals donated since beginning the partnership in 2014. FoodCloud has experienced an unprecedented surge in demand from charities for its food redistribution services over the past 12 months. Between March 2020, when the pandemic began, and February 2021, FoodCloud have increased the volume of food donations to communities by 78% through their three hubs. In order to help FoodCloud meet the increased demand of their services, Aldi donated €50,000 of non-surplus food between March and May 2020. In April 2021, Aldi decided to donate a further €25,000 of non-surplus food as a result of demand continuing to increase as the pandemic continues.
Aldi has now set a donation target, with the team at FoodCloud, of 2.25 million meal donations to achieve by the end of 2021, aiming to achieve this by expanding the scope of donations to groups with a charitable purpose, as well as registered charities. Aldi have also expanded donations from five days to seven days a week, allowing donations to take place during weekends, reducing food waste and food poverty even further. Aldi liaises with FoodCloud regularly to ensure the partnership is as effective as possible. Compliance reports are supplied by FoodCloud to identify stores who are donating the largest amount of
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