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.

ldi recognises the impact

Athat 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 fi nishing 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 fi ve 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 eff ective as possible. Compliance reports are supplied by FoodCloud to identify stores who are donating the largest amount of

ALDI

IN 2020, ALDI AIMED TO HIT THE 2 MILLION MEAL DONATION MARK, WITH FOODCLOUD WHICH THEY SUCCEEDED BY FINISHING THE YEAR WITH 2.1 MILLION MEALS DONATED SINCE BEGINNING THE PARTNERSHIP IN 2014.

stock and stores whose donations have fallen. This helps address any issues which may be taking place in stores so that Aldi can resolve these in order to maximise donations to reach their goals.

COMMUNITY GRANTS Aldi’s Community Grants Programme allows Aldi and its employees to give back to their local communities. The Community Grants Programme was launched in 2016, allowing employees from each store, offi ce and Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) the opportunity to nominate a local charity to receive a €500 donation from Aldi. Aldi employees are immersed in the communities they operate in and this programme allows employees to identify the most pressing needs in each community. The successful charities are invited in store to engage with employees and further enhance the community connection.

In 2020, with the expansion of Aldi’s store network, over 155 charities benefi tted from a €500 donation, nominated locally. The Community Grants programme has donated over €375,000 to 750 local charities and organisations across Ireland since its inception in 2016.

The programme empowers each Aldi location to identify and support the social issues which are current and most pertinent to the local community they operate in. Charities and organisations who have received support from Aldi since the programme began include mental health charities, elderly support groups, youth groups, primary schools, cancer support organisations and many more. PACKAGING PLEDGES The production of plastic is increasing globally, which has resulted in a rise of plastic waste. As a result, minimising plastic and packaging and working towards the goals set out in the EU Circular Economy Package has become a large priority for Aldi in order to become a more sustainable business. In July 2020, Aldi updated its plastic and packaging pledges, narrowing them down to six concise, interwoven pledges to be achieved by 2025. So far, these pledges have led to the removal of over 2,000 tonnes of virgin plastic, resulting in less plastic pollution in the community and moved 930 tonnes of packaging from non-recyclable to recyclable materials. Currently, 95% of Aldi packaging is 100% recyclable, contributing to a circular economy in Ireland.

Using less plastic can also reduce carbon emissions. In 2020, 13.7 million of Aldi’s own-brand 1l fresh milk cartons moved to fully-renewable packaging. The new cartons cost between 25.5% and 31% less CO2 to produce, saving more than 113 tonnes annually.

Using recycled content in plastic reduces the amount of non-renewable energy used in the plastic-making process. Recycled plastic content not only achieves Aldi’s Plastic and Packaging Pledges but also achieves its low carbon pledge. Aldi was the fi rst retailer to move to 100% rPET water bottles across 50% of its range, removing over 1,050 tonnes of virgin plastic.

All Aldi products have on-pack recycling labels instructing customers how to dispose of the packaging. Through Aldi’s social channels, they educate their customers on what is recyclable and what is not, leading to increased knowledge of Ireland’s recycling system and encouraging people to live sustainably.