Aldi and Sustainability

As part of the ALDI SÜD Group, our Purpose is to make a good life affordable. This means offering our customers great quality products at the lowest prices, while maximising our positive impact on people and the planet. Together with our suppliers and partners, we are working to change how food is produced so we can all continue to enjoy the products we love today, and tomorrow.  

Making a good life affordable has been part of our DNA since the beginning. We were founded to meet a pressing societal need: making everyday essentials affordable, accessible, and reliable for customers and their families. Today, food production is under strain. The climate crisis, accelerating nature loss, and widening social inequalities disrupt food production and threaten resource availability in supply chains, including our own. Change is needed and we want to be part of that.

Our Company Purpose:

We exist to make a good life affordable, delivering great quality at the lowest prices, while maximising our positive impact on people and the planet.

We are using our reach and resources to help address significant urgent issues in the food system. We seek to help secure stable food production, strengthen the livelihoods of producers and workers, and ensure that our customers can continue to access affordable, healthier, and sustainable choices.  

However, these challenges cannot be solved by any single company alone. In collaboration with our suppliers, partners, NGOs, governments, and customers, we aim to contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes through targeted initiatives across selected supply chains. In doing so, we hope to ease the pressure on natural resources and support the transition to a more resilient food system. A resilient food system is one that can absorb disturbances, adapt to changing conditions, and includes continuing to provide sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for everyone.    

"At Aldi, great quality and low prices are just the starting point – we use our business as a force to shape a more equitable, thriving and sustainable food system.”    - Thomas Udesen, Group Chief Commercial Officer, ALDI SÜD Group. Find out how.

Why we need to act

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is strongly connected to the loss of natural habitats, and is already having an impact on the everyday products our customers rely on and the people who produce them. We are taking decisive action now to make sure we can continue to offer great quality, affordable products in the future.

• Addressing climate change risks  

The climate crisis is already disrupting food production and supply chains, leading to increased costs and production-associated risks for farmers, suppliers, and retailers. Key agricultural commodities, like cocoa, coffee, fruits and vegetables, are under growing pressure from rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns. This directly threatens the stability and reliability of our global supply chains. Find out more.

• Protecting natural resources and biodiversity  

Natural resources are vital for food security. Without fertile soil, clean water, and thriving ecosystems, agricultural productivity declines and supply chains become more volatile, impacting availability and the cost of everyday items. Find out more.

• Securing supply chain stability and livelihoods  

Farmers and food producers often experience socio-economic challenges, such as poverty, poor working conditions, and health inequalities. These pressures impact the wellbeing of the people who produce our food, and weaken the resilience and stability of the global supply chains we depend on. Find out more.

• Meeting customer expectations and demand  

Customers increasingly expect both the products they buy and the companies behind them to meet higher standards of transparency and sustainability. We take these expectations seriously, and they guide our company.

• Reducing costs through operational efficiency

Reducing energy use in our stores, minimising food waste and optimising packaging can all lead to substantial cost savings and benefits for the environment.  

Browse our Sustainability Reports to explore the full story of Aldi's commitment to sustainability - where we've been, what we're doing today, and the goals we're working towards.

2024 Sustainability Report (Click here)

2023 Sustainability Report (Click here)  

2022 Sustainability Report (Click here)