ALDI

Jun 28, 2022

ALDI is a German retailer founded in 1946 in Essen by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht. The multinational retail company creates clothing for men, women, and children.

ALDI makes apparel, accessories, and shoes split between two regional companies, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. It operates more than 10,000 stores in Europe and the United States.

ALDI cares about safety, health and well-being, and product and production sustainability. It incorporates sustainable business practices while offering high-quality products at affordable prices.

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Sustainability Rating: 4/10

Rating FAQ

Category: Clothing, accessories, shoes, bags

For: Women, men, children

Type: Basics, denim, knitwear, underwear, loungewear, outerwear, sandals, boots, sneakers, flats

Style: Casual

Quality: Low

Price: $

Sizes: XS-2XL, 2-14 (US), 4-16 (UK), 34-44 (EU), 6-18 (AU)

Fabrics: Cotton, linen, modal, viscose, acetate, polyester, nylon, spandex, polyethylene, acrylic, neoprene, polyurethane, rubber, leather, wool

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical & Fair: No

Recycling: Yes

Producing countries: not transparent enough

Certifications: GOTS, OCS, BCI, GRS, RCS, FSC, Oeko-Tex, BSCI

Sustainability Practices

ALDI takes wide-ranging measures to reduce its environmental impact and produce fair working conditions. It has committed to decreasing harmful operational emissions and reducing plastic pollution.

ALDI only uses a tiny proportion of organic materials such as organic cotton or recycled materials such as recycled polyester.

Most of the fabrics it uses are either natural without relevant certifications, such as regular cotton or linen, or synthetic petroleum-based fibers such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and more.

ALDI also uses a little amount of semi-synthetic fibers or regenerated cellulosic fabrics such as modal, acetate, and viscose.

ALDI doesn't publish a list of all its manufacturers and processing facilities on its corporate website. It doesn't disclose how it chooses its network of suppliers and manufacturers.

The 2021 Fashion Transparency Index gave ALDI a score of only 31% based on how much the group discloses about its social and environmental policies, practices, and impacts.

The German retailer doesn't show any labor certification standard to ensure good working conditions, decent living wages, health, safety, and other important rights for workers in its supply chain.

ALDI has a code of conduct that applies to all its suppliers and subcontractors based on the regulations set by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

ALDI assesses compliance with its Code of Conduct by informal visits or third-party audits with or without notice. It works with stakeholders to transfer knowledge and educate teams on how to improve their work environment.

ALDI doesn't use exotic animal skin, hair, fur, or angora. But it uses leather and wool to manufacture many of its clothing pieces.

These animal-derived materials are cruel and unethical. They also harm the environment by producing greenhouse gases and waste. More sustainable alternatives exist.

Sustainability Goals

ALDI has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2025. It will install solar panels on an additional 60 stores and one new distribution center in 2022.

ALDI plans to eliminate all plastic shopping bags from stores by the end of 2023. And it will make 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

By 2025, ALDI will achieve zero waste in operations by diverting 90% of its waste from landfills through recycling, donation, and organic recycling programs. It also aims to reduce its food waste by 50% by 2030.

ALDI has committed to using recycled or certified cotton to produce its apparel and home textile products by 2025. It will also eliminate deforestation in its high-priority supply chains by the end of 2030.

Buy Here

Discover ALDI's sustainable collections at ALDI.com.

Reviews And Experiences With ALDI

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What We're Up Against

Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
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