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Aldi slashes food waste by almost 60% and sets new 2030 target
2 January, 2024
- Aldi announces a 57% reduction in food waste since 2017 in its inaugural sustainability report in Great Britain
- UK’s fourth largest supermarket has donated 40 million meals to good causes since 2019
- Initiatives like its eco concept store have also been designed to significantly reduce carbon consumption and make it easier for shoppers to reduce waste
Aldi has announced a 57% reduction in its food waste*, meaning it has hit its 2030 target eight years early.
The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket announced this latest milestone as it published its inaugural sustainability report, which offers insights into the work Aldi is doing that contributes to society and the planet, while maintaining its commitment to quality and affordability.
The business had committed to reduce food waste by 20% by 2025 (relative to a 2017 baseline) and to halve food waste by 2030, in line with the Courtauld 2030 and UN SDG Champions 12.3 commitments.
As it has achieved both targets already, Aldi has revised its current target and is aiming to reduce food waste by 90% by 2030**.
It is working hard to prevent waste in its operations wherever possible and is working with food distribution companies like Company Shop Group to redistribute food where any waste does occur. The supermarket also announced its partnership with the world’s largest surplus food platform Too Good To Go earlier this year.
Since 2019, Aldi has donated 40 million meals to good causes via its charity partner Neighbourly and has donated one million meals this festive season alone.
Aldi’s sustainability report also highlights the success of its new eco concept store, which it opened last year as part of its efforts to significantly reduce emissions in its operations while making it easier for shoppers to reduce, reuse and recycle.
The store is trialling refill fixtures to help customers shop more sustainably and is using energy saving initiatives such as solar panels and chiller doors to reduce energy consumption. Meanwhile, redesigning the building structure has also helped reduce overall energy demand by 57%.
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We’re dedicated to taking steps that positively impact the environment and we know one area where we can have a big impact is food waste.
“This has never been more important – not only for the planet, but in helping people get access to food that’s both high-quality and affordable.
“We’re proud of the progress we’re making, which we’re pleased to share in our first sustainability report, and that’s why we’re looking to push ourselves even further. As we continue to expand our footprint and broaden our customer base, we want to continue to do so in a sustainable and responsible way.
“We know this is important to Aldi shoppers and to our supply partners. And while we still have a lot of work to do, we’re always looking for new ways to innovate to lower our environmental impact across our operations, whether through using renewable energy to power our stores and redistribution centres, to reducing food waste and packaging.”
Giles Hurley, CEO at Aldi UK, said: “We’ve seen millions of shoppers switch to Aldi during a time when many household incomes are squeezed. At the same time, consumers expect businesses to act responsibly.
“We have a huge role to play in making sustainability affordable for all. We believe that doing the right thing for people and the planet, while offering unbeatable prices, can go hand-in-hand and we’ll continue to report on our progress in the months and years to come.”
More information on Aldi’s sustainability report can be found here: Corporate Responsibility – ALDI UK.
*Food waste as a percentage of total food sales, otherwise known as food waste intensity
**Target relates to food waste intensity
ENDS
For more information, please contact the Aldi Press Office on:
T: 0161 235 0300 or aldi@citypress.co.uk
Business news
ALDI BACKS CHARITY CALL FOR SUPERMARKETS TO MAKE FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN STORE TOILETS
13 August, 2026- New Aldi-commissioned research reveals 67% of shoppers think supermarkets should provide free period products in customer toilets
- Three quarters (75%) say free period products should be as readily available in supermarket toilets as toilet paper and soap
- Aldi is backing charity partner Freedom4Girls’ call for other major UK supermarkets to make free period products available in store toilets where facilities allow.
Aldi is supporting its charity partner, Freedom4Girls, in calling for more supermarkets to make free period products available in store toilets, as new research reveals shoppers support supermarkets providing free access to essential period products.
Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls and Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, have jointly written to the chief executives of major UK supermarkets, calling on them to make free period products available where store facilities allow.
The Aldi-commissioned survey of 2,000 UK shoppers found that 67% believe supermarkets should provide free pads and tampons in customer toilets, while 67% say they would be more likely to view a supermarket positively if it offered the service.
The research also found that three quarters (75%) of shoppers think period products should be treated as an everyday bathroom essential, just like toilet paper and soap, while 66% say supermarkets have an important role to play in supporting people who may struggle to access or afford them.
It comes after Aldi became the first UK supermarket to offer free period products in all customer and colleague toilets, with customers and colleagues able to take what they need, when they need it – no code word or loyalty scheme needed.
Since launching the initiative in March 2025, Aldi has provided one million free period products through its store toilets, helping to make everyday essentials such as tampons and pads more accessible to everyone who needs them.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: "Access to period products should be a basic right, not a privilege. That is why we made free period products available in our store toilets for customers and colleagues, with no questions asked.
"The latest research shows shoppers support supermarkets making period products more accessible. Together with Freedom4Girls, we’ve written to the chief executives of other major UK supermarkets, encouraging them to consider introducing free period products where facilities allow.
"This is a simple, practical step that could make a real difference to customers and colleagues across the country. These products are essential, and we believe making them freely available is the right thing to do."
Tina Leslie MBE, Founder of Freedom4Girls, a menstrual equity charity dedicated to tackling period poverty, said: "Period poverty remains a huge issue in the UK, and we’re encouraged to see Aldi continuing to use its platform to push for wider change.
"Providing free period products in supermarket toilets is a practical way to help people access what they need discreetly and with dignity. We would welcome more retailers taking similar action to help tackle stigma, affordability and access."
The findings also suggest that free period products in supermarket toilets would help tackle a range of barriers, with 69% of shoppers saying the provision would help people who unexpectedly come on their period while away from home, 58% saying it would help those who cannot afford products when they need them, and 48% saying it would reduce embarrassment around asking for or buying period products.
When asked where free period products should be made available, 56% of shoppers selected supermarket customer toilets, ahead of shopping centres, transport hubs and leisure centres.
62% also said they would expect large supermarkets to provide free period products in customer toilets, while just over half (51%) said they would be more likely to shop with a retailer that made period products freely available in-store.
Among those who have or have ever had a period, 53% said they had been caught short without period products while shopping or away from home, while 93% said they had used toilet roll, tissue or another alternative because they did not have a product available.
Aldi’s in-store provision forms part of its wider commitment to supporting communities and improving access to everyday essentials. The supermarket has also donated one million period products to people experiencing period poverty through partnerships with charities including Freedom4Girls.
Customers can also donate period products through Aldi’s in-store donation points, with items distributed to food banks and charitable organisations via its community partner Neighbourly.
ENDS
*Research carried out in July 2026 by OnePoll among a sample of 2,000 UK shoppers.
