Can a a price breaker also be a responsible entrepreneur? Aldi Nord thinks so, publishing its very first sustainability report – showing how the hard discounter is reinventing itself.
Sustainability becomes strategic objective
It is a remarkable publication for a company known for its secretiveness, but the world is changing: consumers nowadays demand transparency and expect companies to behave responsibly. Aldi now proves it is listening to its customers’ request.
“Companies should be committed throughout the world to ensuring that environmental and social standards are observed in manufacturing and upstream processes”, the German discounter said. “This proactive approach is precisely in tune with the expectations of consumers and other players in the community, such as associations. This development gives rise to our aspiration to make our CR engagement even more professional and to establish it as a more strategic objective.” The company’s Corporate Responsibility department is now part of every country’s national purchase organization.
“The original”
Aldi presents itself as the “original among the discounters” in its Sustainability Report 2015. It refers to a “simple, responsible and reliable approach” in its contribution to sustainability: employee appreciation, supply chain responsibility, resource conservation, social commitment, and dialogue promotion. The report mentions actual goals and deadlines the company hopes to reach.
The report also emphasizes responsible purchases: the Germans point out that they collaborate with suppliers in full faith and for the long-term: “We consider it important that millions of people in Europe are able to do their shopping in our stores with a good conscience. After all, the trust of our customers is our most valuable asset.” The company has an animal welfare policy and clear guidelines to handle sensitive resources like fish, cocoa, palm oil, while it is currently developing guidelines for coffee, cotton, wood, cardboard and paper.
Interesting numbers
The retailer also divulged plenty of interesting numbers: 32.9 % of its fish products are certified sustainable, 76.8 % of its palm oil and 48.9 % of cocoa in its own brand products as well. 12.8 % of Aldi coffee is also certified or verified as sustainable.
Aldi published its report in three languages: German, Dutch and English.
