We believe the most effective way to increase sustainability in our fish and seafood supply chains is by forming strategic partnerships and collaborations. For that reason, the ALDI SOUTH Group works closely with its suppliers and participates in several multistakeholder initiatives.
We have the ambition to meet the highest standards in environmental performance and social responsibility when sourcing fish and seafood. To achieve this goal, we need to understand the entire journey of our fish and seafood products through their supply chain. As responsible retailers, both the ALDI SOUTH Group and ALDI Nord Group have set a goal to source 100% of their own-brand seafood products from responsibly managed fisheries and farms.
By forming partnerships, we gain better insights and can positively impact social and environmental standards.
Fish and seafood in global supply chains
Overfishing and irresponsible fishing practices are the key drivers for the dangerous decline of fish stocks around the world. Most of the seafood consumed today comes from fish farms. While those farms help meet the high demand for fish and seafood, they can cause great damage to the environment.
The ALDI SOUTH Group's goals are to eliminate overfishing, bycatch and ecosystem harm in our fish and seafood supply chains and to source all fish and seafood responsibly by the end of 2030.
Increasing transparency and traceability
Transparency is a key aspect of sourcing products responsibly. Without knowing where our products come from, we cannot ensure compliance with our requirements, analyse risks, monitor or implement projects. Through our partnerships, we gain valuable information on the origins of our seafood products. Our suppliers are required to report, for example, their fisheries and farms, catch areas and fishing methods. This information allows us to actively drive improvements.
We have collaborated with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) since 2012. The leading non-governmental organisation focuses on enhancing the sustainability of wild fisheries and aquaculture. The SFP serves as our independent advisor on fish sustainability: It rates the sustainability of the fish and seafood used in our own-brand products and provides recommendations to drive continuous improvement.
ALDI UK/IE, ALDI Australia, and ALDI US voluntarily joined the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP) to disclose sourcing information on their wild-caught seafood products, such as fisheries, catch methods, and environmental impacts of their wild-caught seafood. The ODP is a global platform and reporting framework dedicated to increasing transparency in global seafood supply chains.
Promoting Responsible Fishing Practices
Global Tuna Alliance
In May 2021, together with ALDI Nord we partnered with the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA). We want to ensure that our tuna products meet the highest standards in environmental performance and social responsibility.
The GTA comprises retailers and producers committed to:
- Realising harvest strategies for tuna fisheries
- Avoiding illegal, unreported, and unregulated products
- Improving traceability and environmental sustainability
- Progressing work on human rights in tuna fisheries
- Implementing the objectives laid out in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Tuna 2020 Traceability Declaration
North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA)
In 2021, we joined the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) to advocate for an effective international agreement on mackerel and herring quotas. NAPA aims to promote sustainability by working towards an agreement on scientifically recommended catch levels and long-term, science-based management strategies. Therefore, the initiative established the Northeast Atlantic Ocean Mackerel and Herring – Hook & Line, Trawl, and Purse Seine Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP). Beside participating in this initiative, we also call on our business partners to support our efforts by joining NAPA.
Signatory for robust fisheries control mechanisms
In 2021, ALDI signed a statement calling for robust fisheries control mechanisms in the European Union, including a digital traceability approach to improve assurance of sustainable fisheries.
It highlights two aspects in particular: To ensure the legality of fishing activities at sea and the legality of all fish and seafood products entering the supply chain, both fresh and processed.
Setting the direction with our stakeholders
The ALDI SOUTH Group hosts together with ALDI Nord an annual stakeholder meeting that brings together their sustainability partners and certification bodies for fish and seafood. Different workshops allow a deeper understanding of risks and opportunities within ALDI's supply chains. Together, we discuss the current fish and seafood challenges, and strategies and efforts for the construction of a more sustainable sector.
