Aldi sets out plan to go carbon neutral by 2019

The UK and Ireland arm of Aldi is planning to go carbon neutral by next year.

The discount supermarket made the announcement this week to hit net-zero emissions, building on its already impressive attempts to tackle its carbon footprint.

Since 2012 it has managed to reduce its emissions by 53 percent per metre square of sales floor. This has been led by new investments in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy.

388 solar panels have been installed across its stores and £20 million invested in upgrading its refrigeration system to reduce energy consumption. 100 percent of its electricity is now accredited as coming from renewable sources.

To achieve its goal of carbon neutrality the company will work with ClimatePartner to offset its remaining emissions. This will include supporting forestry projects in Peru, water purification in India, and clean cooking stoves in China.

Aldi sees reducing fuel consumption in transport as a key component in hitting zero emissions across its operations. To do this it is deploying lighter vehicles with “more fuel-efficient tyres and improved aerodynamics”, according to the company.

Fuel management systems and tracking software to find the most efficient routes will also minimise emissions from its fleet of trucks.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility, said: “Becoming carbon neutral is a key part of our corporate responsibility commitments. We are continually reviewing our operations to reduce emissions and be kinder to the environment, while also future-proofing our growing store portfolio for many years to come.”

The news is the latest move from the corporation to up its sustainability commitments. In February, it announced a plan to halve its food waste across UK and Ireland by 2030.

The commitment is part of the Champions 12.3 coalition, a campaign to bring businesses and governments together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The 12.3 goal specifically refers to cutting global food waste on the retail and consumer levels.

 

Photo Credit: Brandon King/CC