Aldi aims to halve food waste by 2030

Aldi UK & Ireland has joined a number of other companies and organisations in the pursuit of a UN goal to reduce global food waste by half by 2030.

The discounter is the first major UK supermarket to join ‘Friends of Champions 12.3’ – a group dedicated to the implementation of Target 12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This target is based on an independent benchmark set in 2015, and reads: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.”

Major participants in the network include FoodDrinkEurope and Pizza Hut, among others.

“In 2017, Aldi was ranked the best-performing supermarket for compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice for the fourth consecutive year, underlining its commitment to maintaining fair, predictable and sustainable prices within its supply chain,” says City Press senior account manager Hannah Twist, on behalf of Aldi.

The supermarket has said it is committed to helping its customers reduce food waste at home, and welcomes initiatives such as displaying messages from the Waste & Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) Love Food Hate Waste campaign on its packaging, and online. Other schemes include engaging with suppliers and third party logistics providers to redistribute food waste, and donating to charities such as FareShare and FoodCloud.

The WRAP charity works with businesses and communities to help reduce food waste and develop sustainable products.

“With one-third of the world’s food lost or wasted, costing the global economy $950 billion every year, the food waste challenge is monumental and urgent,” said WRAP development director Richard Swannell. “The UN SDG 12.3 is ambitious and achievable—but only if we set targets, measure and galvanise action from governments, business and citizens from all over the world.”

Aldi will release an annual public report to track progress on reducing food waste.

“Food waste is one of our sector’s most pressing issues, and reducing it is everyone’s responsibility,” said Aldi managing director of corporate responsibility Oliver King. “By joining this network we hope to work with others in the industry to tackle this collectively by sharing data and resources.”

Redistribution is the most effective way to reduce food loss and waste as a result of a surplus, according to the supermarket. Since 2015, Aldi has donated 1,200 tonnes—enough for 2.8 million meals—of surplus food to charities and community groups across the UK & Ireland. Suppliers to the supermarket have helped redistribute 2,400 tonnes—5.75 million meals—since October 2015.

World Resources Institute spokesperson Dr Liz Goodwin said: “The challenge of tackling global food loss and waste is something we all need to work on and it’s good to see Aldi recognising the role they can play.” She went on to invite more companies and organisations to network with the Friends of Champions 12.3 in setting consistent goals and take action to reduce food waste.