ALDI West End will receive a new look in early 2020. When it comes to sustainability in-store, over the last few years the majority of the ALDI store network has received an upgrade to the new look format. These refurbished stores feature redesigned shelving, expanded wooden produce bays, as well as extended energy efficient chillers. As energy management remains a key priority for ALDI, these stores also have energy efficient LED lighting.
ALDI have three core values that guide everything they do: simplicity, consistency, and responsibility. They are committed to doing the right thing in every aspect of their operations and understand their responsibility to the environment, sustainable sourcing, community and health.
This year ALDI took the significant step of announcing their Plastics & Packaging Commitments, which guide their actions to eliminate at least a quarter of all plastic packaging by 2025, as well as remove certain single-use and problematic plastics from stores. ALDI’s plastics and packaging commitments align with steps they have already taken to reduce environmental impact such as never offering single use plastic carrier bags, which has avoided 40,000 tonnes of plastic from entering the environment. Other positive changes to packaging solutions include introducing 100% recycled and recyclable packaging for the Green Action Laundry Liquid and Wool Wash, and removing over 11 million single-use plastic forks from noodle bowls and cups.
ALDI have led the industry on a number of environmental programs, including being the first and only supermarket to offer a national battery-recycling scheme, the first supermarket to eliminate phosphate from their entire laundry range and the first to eliminate microbeads storewide. ALDI are committed to working in partnership with suppliers to meet the ambitious but achievable targets. Collectively, ALDI are proud of the role they can play as one of Australia’s leading retailers to influence positive change, not only in business but within the community and supply chain. ALDI will publicly report against all of their commitments from 2020. This will allow them to track and measure progress, identify what is working and what isn’t. And most importantly, reporting will keep ALDI and its partners on track to progress sustainable solutions.
