Meat, dairy and eggs are some of the core products sold by the ALDI SOUTH Group, which is why we are committed to delivering better animal welfare standards across our markets.
Why animal welfare is important
The global challenges of food production are linked to almost every threat currently facing our planet, its ecosystems, and its people. These food systems have become highly industrialised, with the livestock sector being the largest user of agricultural land. The number of land animals slaughtered for food each year has increased eightfold since the 1960s and most farmed animals are reared intensively in systems that impact their welfare.
How does the ALDI SOUTH Group ensure animal welfare?
Demand for animal products is high and so are our customers' expectations. The challenges facing food production and its supply chains are wide-ranging and complex, but this does not stop us from delivering products that meet certain animal welfare standards.
Our focus on specific animal welfare issues depends on the perception of animal welfare and legal requirements within each of our national markets.
The ALDI SOUTH Group is committed to:
- None of our products contain any raw materials derived from exotic or endangered animal species. Our health and beauty products, detergents and cleaners are free from animal testing.
- We prohibit our suppliers from live-plucking and force-feeding ducks and geese, and we do not to produce or sell foie gras or meat from birds reared for foie gras.
- We have strict requirements for fresh meat and poultry suppliers to apply appropriate stunning methods when slaughtering.
- We do not offer any products containing angora wool or real fur. We also prohibit mulesing during merino wool production.
ALDI SÜD Germany has become a driving force, pioneering better animal husbandry in Germany. Since 2019, we have voluntary labelled out meat products - and since 2022 also some dairy products - with the “Haltungsform”, a voluntary cross-sectoral guide that indicates the conditions under which the animals were kept. The “Haltungsform” is a four-stage rating system which classifies the husbandry type from minimum (1) to premium/organic (4) conditions.
- 100% of our drinking milk in Germany comes from husbandry levels 3 and 4.***
- 50% of the fresh meat sold in Germany comes from husbandry levels 3 and 4****
ALDI SÜD Germany aims to source 100% fresh and processed meat sourced from suppliers with husbandry levels 3 and 4 by 2030.****
*** Based on sales for ALDI SOUTH in Germany of own-brand drinking milk, excluding branded products. **** Based on sales for ALDI SOUTH in Germany with a) fresh meat from the largest livestock groups beef, pork, chicken and turkey; excluding (international) specialities and frozen products; b) our own brands of chilled meat, sausage and ham products as well as meatballs from the largest livestock groups beef, pork, chicken and turkey;excluding international specialities as well as convenience and ready meals.
ALDI SÜD Germany has become a driving force, pioneering better animal husbandry in Germany. Since 2019, we have voluntary labelled out meat products - and since 2022 also some dairy products - with the “Haltungsform”, a voluntary cross-sectoral guide that indicates the conditions under which the animals were kept. The “Haltungsform” is a four-stage rating system which classifies the husbandry type from minimum (1) to premium/organic (4) conditions.
- 100% of our drinking milk in Germany comes from husbandry levels 3 and 4.***
- 50% of the fresh meat sold in Germany comes from husbandry levels 3 and 4****
ALDI SÜD Germany aims to source 100% fresh and processed meat sourced from suppliers with husbandry levels 3 and 4 by 2030.****
*** Based on sales for ALDI SOUTH in Germany of own-brand drinking milk, excluding branded products. **** Based on sales for ALDI SOUTH in Germany with a) fresh meat from the largest livestock groups beef, pork, chicken and turkey; excluding (international) specialities and frozen products; b) our own brands of chilled meat, sausage and ham products as well as meatballs from the largest livestock groups beef, pork, chicken and turkey;excluding international specialities as well as convenience and ready meals.
Award-winning dairy farming in the UK
The ALDI Dairy Farm Partnership is a partnership between ALDI UK and Arla Foods, a farmer-owned co-operative, to develop best practice in animal welfare and farm management to improve the UK dairy industry.
Increasing welfare for laying hens and broiler chicken
Nearly 85% of the 8.3 billion egg-laying hens worldwide are kept in cage systems. The welfare of laying hens has been an important, global topic for nearly four decades and “cage-free” remains a big challenge across industries. Our efforts in 2023 have ensured that 95% of shell eggs sold by the ALDI SOUTH Group***** are cage-free.
- ALDI SÜD Germany was the first ALDI market to commit to the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), a set of standards for broiler welfare that is leading the global food industry towards higher welfare practices. It is a science-based, welfare policy that addresses issues relating to breeding, housing, stocking density and slaughter systems.
- Fast growth rates result in significant pain and suffering for chickens. HOFER Austria has been introducing slower growing breeds for a range of products in 2023. By selecting slower growing breeds for FairHOF products, HOFER Austria is strongly committed to more humane animal welfare practices for broiler chickens.
***** except USA, Hungary and China
Making a difference: Animal fibres and materials
Our commitment to a more humane, environmentally sound world goes beyond food systems. Addressing animal fibres allows us to implement better animal standards within our non-food products.
The ALDI SOUTH Group already adheres to the following certifications:
- Downpass Traceability Standard 2017
- Leather Working Group (LWG)
- Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
- Good Cashmere Standard (GCS)
- Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
Find out more about our animal welfare policies, initiatives and projects. The Animal Welfare Factsheet provides information about the ALDI SOUTH Group for benchmarking enquiries.
