In 2017, the ALDI SOUTH Group was the first discount food retailer to join the United Nations Global Compact, a worldwide initiative for sustainable and responsible business practices. The food retailer has committed to implementing the UNGC’s principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption as part of its long-term strategy and within the scope of daily business operations.

The recently published report communicates the ALDI SOUTH Group’s progress on implementing the UNGC’s principles in strategy and operations. This includes, for example, joining the Ethical Trade Initiative, engaging in living wage working groups, publishing an international Child Labour Policy and strengthening labour standards in the Vietnamese cashew nut supply chain. The ALDI SOUTH Group also engages in the Retailer Cocoa Collaboration to tackle deforestation and uses RSPO-certified palm oil for 100% of private label products. More than 340 conducted ALDI Social Assessments evaluated production facilities’ compliance with our CR Requirements and ALDI Social Standards in Production.

The United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption and to take action in support of UN goals. Launched in 2000, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks.