Aldi UK and Ireland have offset carbon equivalent to the carbon footprint of our own operations since 2019
We are taking decisive action to combat climate change, recognizing its devastating impact on our planet and communities. Since 2019, we've worked to reduce our carbon footprint by directly purchasing 100% renewable electricity, optimising our logistics operations and transitioning to lower carbon fuels, and installing solar panels on hundreds of our stores. Where we aren’t able to reduce our own operational (Scope 1 & 2) emissions yet, we are investing in impactful carbon offsetting projects equivalent to our carbon footprint.
This is just the beginning. We're committed to achieving net-zero emissions for our own operations (Scope 1 & 2 emissions) by 2035, contributing to a future where everyone can thrive in a healthy environment, and are always looking for ways to further improve our own efficiencies. We're also engaging with our suppliers to encourage their own emission reduction efforts, recognizing that our responsibility extends beyond our own operations. Through collaborative efforts like the Paris Agreement, we can make a difference.
Solar Energy, India
Aldi are supporting a solar energy project in the city of Ahmedabad, India. The project activity involves the installation of a 120-megawatt solar power plant which provides almost 300,000 megawatt hours of electricity, equivalent to over 16,000 homes’ energy use for one year. In addition to the positive effects on the climate, the project also creates jobs for local people and offers regular training to employees.
How does solar energy help fight global warming?
Since energy from solar panels is created without burning fossil fuels, it is considered emission-free. The growth of renewable energy production is essential to prevent global warming and secure energy supplies for the future.
Wind Energy, India
Aldi are investing in a wind farm in Maharashtra, India. This initiative is cutting down on carbon emissions by producing renewable energy through wind power. It involves setting up 33 wind turbines. Annually, this facility generates approximately 77,445 MWh of renewable electricity, this is equivalent to powering over 4,000 homes for one year. The electricity generated is supplied to the North Eastern Western and North Eastern regional power grid, enhancing the area's electricity provision. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our carbon offset initiative aids in boosting both the economic and social progress within the local community.
How does wind power help fight global warming?
As the name suggests, wind turbines use the power of wind to generate energy. During this process, a generator located inside the wind turbine converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, The energy created by wind turbines does not require fossil fuels and is therefore considered clean and emission free.
Wind Energy, Indonesia
Less than a third of the electricity in Indonesia comes from renewable sources and the country is dependent on importing electricity due to their increasing use. This project has supported the installation of a wind farm in Indonesia. The farm has 30 wind turbines, generating on average 253 gigawatt hours a year, equivalent of charging over 13 million smartphones.
Clean Cookstoves, Nigeria
Over 71 percent of Nigeria’s population cooks on inefficient cookers over open fires. The resulting smoke hurts the health of women, who traditionally spend more time at home and are responsible for cooking. This carbon offset project was created on the initiative of local women, providing clean and efficient cookstoves in Nigeria and involving women as important stakeholders and sales agents.
Aldi are proud to support this initiative, in addition to less smoke, the new cookstoves also have other benefits for the local population: due to the higher efficiency of the stoves, local people save time and money – cooking is faster and less fuel is needed. The use of the more efficient cookstoves saves about 604,520 tonnes of CO2 annually.
How do clean cookstoves help fight global warming?
Cooking meals on an open flame is not very energy efficient, as large amounts of heat go to waste. Clean cooking stoves are often simple devices made from metal or clay that use energy more efficiently. Families can thus save fuel and cut down on carbon emissions.
Forest Protection, Indonesia
The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, is home to some of the last remaining endangered Bornean orangutans. This project works to protect their habitat and promote ecosystem health by reforesting degraded areas. The community is supported through activities that include the supply of individual water filters, water purification systems, fire management, solar lighting, libraries, scholarships, micro-enterprises and a floating clinic that delivers health services to the most remote areas.
How does forest protection help fight global warming?
Forests are not only among the planet's most important carbon reservoirs. They also are home to an enormous diversity of species and are the livelihood for all people. Depending on the project region, forests store varying amounts of carbon per hectare. Particularly high amounts of carbon are stored in vegetation and soil of tropical swamp forests, primary rainforests or mangroves. Forest protection projects ensure that these carbon stores are preserved.
Clean Oceans
Aldi are working in partnership with Plastic Bank to support the Clean Oceans project, which helps remove plastics from our oceans. Locals from impoverished areas collect plastic waste and exchange it at local Plastic Bank sites for money, food, drinking water or children’s tuition. The plastic is then recycled to make new products.
How do clean oceans help fight global warming?
CO2 offsetting is done through other Climate Partner’s carbon offset projects, which are certified according to international standards. Every tonne of CO2 offset enables the Plastic Bank initiative to stop 10 kg of plastic waste from entering the ocean. The ocean stores a quarter of the CO2 from the atmosphere and even 93 percent of the heat caused by the greenhouse effect - making it a major brake on climate change. The healthier the ocean, the more carbon that can be stored!
