Aldi Australia
OVERALL |
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Owned |
GER |
Rating |
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Budget supermarkets
The first Australian ALDI store opened in January 2001. Today they operate over 500 stores throughout Australia.
Company Ownership
Aldi Stores (A Limited Partnership) | AUS | website | ||||
Aldi Sud ![]() owns 100% of Aldi Stores (A Limited Partnership) |
GER | website | ||||
Budget supermarkets Aldi was founded in Germany by the Albrecht brothers is 1913. In 1960 Aldi split into 2 independent groups, Aldi Nord (North) and Aldi Sud (South). Aldi's Australian operations are part of Aldi Sud. |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Aldi Stores (A Limited Partnership) | ||||
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has: committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; signed at least one power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; invested in on-site solar.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed evidence of actions that cover ALL areas of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2020)
Green rating in Greenpeace Canned Tuna Guide. "ALDI Australia took 4th place. It is taking improved sustainability seriously, thanks to its commitment to traceability and transparency on its labels. ALDI is currently only sourcing pole and line and FAD-free tuna, but should make some firmer policy commitments. By offering the consumer clear sustainability messaging on cans and in-store advertising, ALDI are going the extra mile to promote responsible fishing practices. Unfortunately, ALDI still uses yellowfin tuna, so be sure to choose its more sustainable Portview skipjack option instead."
Source: Canned Tuna Guide (2017)
This company won the Large Business Award at the 2020 Banksia Sustainability Awards. "In August 2020, ALDI committed to power all of its stores and warehouses with 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2021."
Source: Banksia Foundation (2020) |
For eggs to be labelled free range, the Model Code of Practice says there should be a maximum of 1500 hens per hectare. In 2020 Choice updated its list of which egg brands meet the Model Code. According to the report, this company uses a stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare for its free range eggs, well in excess of the Model Code.
Source: Choice (2020) |
In July 2011 Aldi Foods provided a court enforceable undertaking to the ACCC in relation to the labelling of 'Just Organic' honey manufactured by Spring Gully Foods and sold exclusively through Aldi supermarkets. Both companies were ordered to change the labels, inform consumers by corrective notices, and establish and implement a compliance program.
Source: ACCC (2011)
In 2020 this company announced that following a 40% reduction of overall operational emissions from a 2012 baseline, it is now committing to 100 per cent renewable electricity to power its Australian operations by the end of 2021.
Source: news article (2020)
This company sells Rainforest Alliance certified products. However this only represents a fraction of this company's total private label products sales. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified.
Source: Rainforest Alliance (2020)
This company sells UTZ certified chocolate, promoting fair and sustainable cocoa production. This ensures the cocoa is sourced and produced sustainably on farms with safe working conditions. However unlike Fairtrade certification, UTZ does not offer a minimum or guaranteed price, and the environmental standards of UTZ Certified are far weaker than those of either Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance.
Source: UTZ (2020)
Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's products contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). For more details, follow the link to see Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia's list of products which manufacturers have told them are palm oil free or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil.
Source: BOS Australia (2020)
This company has agreed to phase out the use of microbeads in their own-brand products by 2017. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean. While microbeads aren't thought to be a health hazard to consumers, they are a threat to the marine environment.
Source: CHOICE (2016)
This company makes voluntary contributions to DrinkWise Australia, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2005 by the alcohol industry, whose stated goal is to help bring about a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia.
Source: DrinkWise (2020)
To improve the nutritional content of ALDI Australia's exclusive brand lines and branded food items, artificial food colours have been removed. The artificial colours were replaced with natural substances or nothing and the reformatted products are of the same quality and taste. Six artificial colours identified in a University of Southampton study and an additional 8 used in Australian manufacturing were removed.
Source: ALDI Australia (2013)
This company sells Fairtrade Certified chocolate, coffee and tea. However this only represents a fraction of their total chocolate, tea and coffee sales.
Source: Fairtrade ANZ (2019)
This company is listed on the RSPCA Australia website as 'cage-free and proud', signifying a commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. Essentially cage-free means barn laid, which is better than cage eggs, but still much worse than free-range or organic eggs when it comes to animal welfare.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2020)
Most brands in store are ALDI's generic brands, under their own private label and 80% of these are sourced from local manufacturers. This is unlike the trend with generic house brands for the two major supermarkets that are increasingly sourcing their house brand products from overseas.
Source: company website (2020)
This company has signed up to the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which governs certain conduct by grocery retailers and wholesalers in their dealings with suppliers. It has rules relating to grocery supply agreements, payments, termination of agreements, dispute resolution and a range of other matters.
Source: ACCC (2015)
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2020)
In April 2016 Choice tested oregano samples from 12 brands and found that only 5 were 100% oregano. The other seven, including Stonemill (Aldi), contained between 50% and 90% ingredients other than oregano, such as olive leaves. Choice referred the matter to the ACCC. As a result this company has agreed to only use 100% oregano. (http://bit.ly/2fzEvUe)
Source: Choice (2016)
B grade in Baptist World Aid Australia's '2021 Ethical Fashion Report', which grades companies, from A to F, on the strength of their systems to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2021) |
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Aldi Sud | ||||
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company is rated 'leading the way' with a score of 18.3 out of a possible total of 22.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 (2019)
This company has signed the 'Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh', a program endorsed by Bangladeshi and international unions and labor rights organizations. The ground-breaking program includes independent safety inspections with public reports, mandatory factory building renovations, the obligation by brands and retailers to underwrite the cost of repairs, and a vital role for workers and their unions – all in a legally-binding, enforceable agreement.
Source: Bangladesh Accord (2019)
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs. They work in partnership to improve the lives of workers across the globe who make or grow consumer goods - everything from tea to T-shirts, from flowers to footballs. This company's membership status is 'Foundation stage'.
Source: Ethical Trading Initiative (2021)
In 2021 Mighty Earth and Be Slavery Free released their Easter Chocolate Shopping Guide, a scorecard which ranks retailers on transparency and cocoa sustainability practices in regards to deforestation, farmer poverty and child labour. It does not assess effectiveness or implementation. This company is rated as "Leading the industry on policy".
Source: Be Slavery Free (2021)
The 2020 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 3, "Established but work to be done", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2020)
The 2021 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 31%, signifying it is publishing suppliers lists as well as detailed information about their policies, procedures, social and environmental goals, supplier assessment and remediation processes, and is more likely to be addressing issues such as living wages and collective bargaining. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 78%.
Source: Fashion Revolution (2021) |
An investigation by Daily Mail journalists in 2017 found workers in Bangladesh making clothes for this company were being paid 25p (less than 0.5 AUD) an hour. Workers endure 12 hour shifts in stifling conditions. Some of the mothers are forced to live hundreds of miles away from their families and can only afford to make the journey twice a year.
Source: Daily Mail (2017)
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 31%.
Source: Forest 500 (2021)
This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for their use of palm oil, signifying they are using no or minimal certified palm products, and with no or minimal positive commitments.
Source: Ethical Consumer (2022) |
Aldi received an overall score of 'D' in Consumer Focus's 2009 Green to the Core report, which rates the UK's top nine supermarkets on how well they inform consumers about sustainability issues and help them make more sustainable choices. The report uses four environmental indicators: climate change, sustainable farming, sustainable fishing, and waste and recycling. Aldi "scored highly in some areas - 100 per cent closed door freezers and a high proportion of sustainable content in packaging. However, let down by lack of information for consumers in many areas and could do better in the amount of UK in-season produce."
Source: Consumer Focus (2009)
This 2011 report by Pesticide Action Network UK compares the top nine UK supermarkets' policies on pesticides. Aldi came equal last in the report, after failing to make any progress despite being the lowest performer in 2009. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Pesticide Action Network UK (2011)
This 2009 report by SUDWIND (part of the German Clean Clothes Campaign) uncovers massive rights violations in Chinese factories that supply special bargains to Aldi. 'The mostly female employees worked up to 91 hours per week and yet were hardly able to make a living from their meager wages. The work load is enormous, and mistakes are being punished by fines. Fundamental labour and women's rights such as the right to maternity leave and to freedom of association are being suppressed.'
Source: Clean Clothes Campaign (2009)
Named in the Clean Clothes Campaign 'Cashing In' report on five top global retailers: Carrefour, Walmart, Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl, highlighting poor working conditions where these discounters produce their clothes and taking the companies to task for failing to take sufficient action to address these problems.
Source: Clean Clothes Campaign (2009)
As a discount chain store, they have been criticised for running smaller retailers out of business. Bavarian dairy farmers picketed Aldi stores, which they blame for a ruinous 15% plunge in milk prices since 2001. [listed as Information due to age of article]
Source: news (2004)
Greenpeace launched its "Detox My Fashion" campaign in 2011 to expose the direct links between global clothing brands, their suppliers and toxic water pollution around the world. As a result, many companies, including this one, committed to Greenpeace's Detox Program.
Source: Greenpeace (2018)
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
This retailer has committed to being a fur free retailer, as recognised by the International Fur Free Retailer Program.
Source: Fur Free Retailer (2019)
The Apparel and Footwear Supply Chain Transparency Pledge (Transparency Pledge) helps demonstrate apparel and footwear companies' commitment towards greater transparency in their manufacturing supply chain. Transparency of a company's manufacturing supply chain better enables a company to collaborate with civil society in identifying, assessing, and avoiding actual or potential adverse human rights impacts. This is a critical step that strengthens a company's human rights due diligence. This company has published some supplier factory information, but falls short of the Pledge standard.
Source: Transparency Pledge (2019)
This company is a signatory to the US Plastics Pact, a collaborative effort organized by The Recycling Partnership and the World Wildlife Fund, launched as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global Plastics Pact network to unify diverse public-private stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics, to create a path forward to realize a circular economy for plastic in the United States. In line with the Ellen McArthur Foundation's vision of a circular economy for plastics, which unites more than 850+ organizations, the US Plastics Pact brings together companies, government entities, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders to work collectively toward scalable solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges within the U.S. landscape, through vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action.
Source: US Plastics Pact (2020)
This company is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, a voluntary initiative which encourages the adoption of better management practices in cotton cultivation to achieve measurable reductions in key environmental impacts, while improving social and economic benefits for cotton farmers, small and large, worldwide.
Source: Better Cotton Initiative (2022)
This company is a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group who's objective is to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry.
Source: Leather Working Group (2022)
The Material Change Index (MCI) is a voluntary benchmark that tracks the apparel and textiles sector's progress toward more sustainable materials sourcing (cotton, polyester, nylon, manmade cellulosics, wool, down and leather), as well as alignment with global efforts like the Sustainable Development Goals and the transition to a circular economy. This company was rated "Maturing", the second highest performance band.
Source: Textile Exchange (2020)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #51/350, with a total score of 37.2/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
This 2010 Der Spiegel article explores "What Makes the Aldi Discount Empire Tick".
Source: Der Spiegel (2010) |
Company Details
Type | Wholly-owned subsidiary |
Contact Details
Address | 1 Sargents Road, Minchinbury, NSW, 2770, Australia |
Phone | 13 25 34 |
Website | www.aldi.com.au |
Products / Brands
Aldi Australia
Alcafe Coffee ALDI Supermarkets ALDI brands House Brands Almat Laundry Detergent Anco Soft Fabric Softener Asia Specialties Asian Asia Specialties Soy/Asian Sauce Atlas Pest Control Bakers Life Flat Bread Bakers Life Bread Beautifully Butterfully Butter & Margarine Belmont Biscuits/Crackers Berg Smallgoods/Pork Blackstone Popcorn Blackstone Chips/Crisps Bramwells Peanut/Nut Butter Bramwells Honey Bramwells Chocolate Spread Bramwells Cheese Spread Brannans Butchery Poultry Brew Room ![]() Broad Oak Farms Poultry Brookdale Topping & Syrup Brookdale Jelly Brookdale Cones & Waffles Brooklea Yoghurt Burrandy Soft Drinks Cachet Cat Food Casa Barelli Pasta Sauce Casa Barelli Fresh Pasta Casa Barelli Frozen Meals/Pizza Chazoos Popcorn Chazoos Chips/Crisps Chef's Cupboard Cooking Sauce Chef's Cupboard Stock Chef's Cupboard Gravy Choceur ![]() Cola Soft Drinks Colway Tomato/BBQ Sauce Colway Salad Dressing/Mayonnaise Colway Pickles, Chutney & Relish Colway Mustard Confidence Toilet Paper Confidence Tissues Confidence Paper Towels Corale Baked Beans/Spaghetti Country Orchard Juice & Fruit Drinks Cowbelle Cheese Dairy Dream Yoghurt Dairy Fine ![]() Damora Rice/Corn Cakes Damora Biscuits/Crackers Deli Originals Dips Deli Originals Pickles, Chutney & Relish Dentitex Toothpaste Dentitex Toothbrush Dentitex Mouthwash Devil's Orchard Cider Di-San Stain Removal & Prewash Diplomat Tea Dominion Sweets & Lollies Earth Grown Vegetarian & Vegan El Tora Mexican Elmsbury Pies & Pasties Elmsbury Frozen Pastry Emporium Selection Cheese Essential Health Weight Loss Essential Health Sports Nutrition Essential Health Vitamins Essential Health Bandages Expressi ![]() Farmdale Pudding & Custard Farmdale Milk Powder Farmdale Milk Farmdale Cream Farmwood Finger Food Fizzi Soft Drinks Flirt Mints & Gum Flying Power Energy Drinks Food Envy Custard & Desserts Forresters Dried Fruit & Nuts Fraser Briggs Beer Goldenvale Muesli & Oats Goldenvale Cereal Goliath Foil/Cling Wrap/Bags Grandessa Jam Green Action Laundry Detergent Green Action Medicinal Oils Green Action Multi-Purpose Cleaners Green Action Toilet Cleaners Green Action Dishwashing Detergent Hair Tresses Shampoo Has No Health Foods Hedafen Pain Relief Tablets Hedanol Pain Relief Tablets Highland Park Beef Hillcrest Muesli Bars Hydale Canned Meat/Meals Imperial Grain Rice Inner Goodness Soy/Plant Milk International Cuisine Frozen Meals/Pizza International Cuisine Finger Food Ironbark Pork Smallgoods/Pork Jindurra Beef Juliet Body Body Wash Julius Pet Food (chilled) Julius Dog Treats Julius Dog Food Jump Soft Drinks Just Organic ![]() |
Just Organic ![]() Lacura Skin Care Lacura Cosmetics Lacura Cotton Buds/Balls Lacura Deodorant Laundrite Laundry Detergent Lazzio Coffee Lodge Farms Eggs Logix Dishwashing Detergent Lyttos Yoghurt Mamia Nappies Mamia Baby Wipes Mamia Baby Formula Mamia Baby Food Market Fare Frozen Vegies/Chips Merryfield (sucrose) Sugar & Sweeteners Milfina Ice Cream Monarc Ice Cream Moo Box Flavoured Milk Moser Roth ![]() Natural Blonde Beer Natural Elements Dog Food Natures Essence Shampoo New Season Canned Vegies/Beans Northbrook Soft Drinks Northbrook Sparkling Water Northbrook Bottled Water NRG Maxx Milk Flavouring Ocean Rise Canned Fish (Tuna) Ocean Rise Canned Fish Ocean Royale Frozen Fish Oh So Natural Health Foods Olivia Feminine Hygiene Ombra Sunscreen Orangee Soft Drinks Orchard & Vine Frozen Desserts/Fruit Piatti Fresh Fresh Pasta Pick'd Juice & Fruit Drinks Portview Canned Fish Portview Canned Fish (Tuna) Power Force Disinfectant Power Force Toilet Cleaners Power Force Multi-Purpose Cleaners Power Force Gloves Power Force Scourers, Sponges & Wipes Power Force Bathroom Cleaners Power Force Window & Glass Cleaners Power Force Floor Cleaners Prince Mens Grooming Prince Shavers Prince Body Wash Prince Deodorant Protane Hair Styling Protane Shampoo Pure Tropics Coconut Water Pure Vita Cooking Oil Pure Vita Vinegar Purewick Air Fresheners Quick Start Breakfast On the Go Ram Flavoured Milk Regal Soft Drinks Remano Olive Oil Remano Pasta Remano Canned Vegies/Beans Remano Vinegar Remano Pasta Sauce Remano Frozen Meals/Pizza Repellex Pest Control Sainte Etienne Beer (imported) San-i-Pet Cat Litter Sana Incontinence Needs Seasons Pride Frozen Vegies/Chips Silks Indian Silvester's Cat Food Simplee Noodles Simplee Soup Simply Vegetarian Vegetarian & Vegan Solesta Juice & Fruit Drinks Sprinters Chips/Crisps Stonemill Crushed Garlic Stonemill Herbs & Spices Storm Brewing Co Beer Sunny Vale Butter & Margarine Sweet Haven Frozen Desserts/Fruit Sweet Valley Canned Fruit Sweet Vine Dried Fruit & Nuts Tandil Dishwashing Detergent Tea Burst Iced Tea The Cake Stall Cakes The Olive Tree ![]() The Soup Co Soup Tricare Body Wash Tricare Hand Wash/Sanitiser Tricare Soap Trimat Laundry Detergent Unamat Dishwashing Detergent Urban Eats Finger Food Vodka Crush Premix Spirits Westacre Cheese Westcliff Cordial Westcliff Juice & Fruit Drinks White Mill Cake Mix White Mill Flour & Bread Mix White Mill Yeast & Baking Agents Will & Jess Cake Mix Willowton ![]() World Kitchen Ready Meals Yippee Ice Cream Yoconut Vegetarian & Vegan |