Aldi also wins Best Energy Achievement in Retail
Aldi Ireland has been awarded the Overall Energy Achievement Award, the top award at the 2021 Business Energy Achievement Awards, in recognition of its approach to using sustainable energy, energy reduction and reducing carbon emissions. In addition, Aldi has also been awarded the Best Energy Achievement in Retail.
Aldi received the awards at the ceremony hosted by Business River. Judges praised Aldi’s commitment to using 100% green electricity, reducing plastic packaging and waste throughout its supply chain and its support of diverse carbon-offsetting projects, among other achievements. The Business Energy Achievement Awards recognise excellence and achievements from organisations which demonstrate effective sustainable energy initiatives.
Sustainability is ingrained in Aldi Ireland’s business ethos, and it continuously aims to increase the use of sustainable energy. All of Aldi’s 149 Irish stores are now powered by 100% green energy. Through its Project Fresh initiative, Aldi is revamping the design and energy efficiency of its stores, reducing CO2 emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, and increasing the use of sustainable energy. Aldi has achieved ISO 50001 accreditation in recognition of its efforts to improve energy efficiencies.
As part of its long-term commitment towards the environment, Aldi pledged to support the planting of 1 million native Irish woodland trees by 2025. This will see a 160,000-tonne reduction in carbon emissions over the next 100 years. Aldi achieved Carbon Neutral status in January 2019 by continually working to reduce its carbon footprint through a range of initiatives including buying 100% renewable electricity and using greener refrigerant gases.
Aldi is committed to reducing the amount of plastic used across its store network as part of its ongoing carbon reduction programme. To date, it has removed more than 2,150 tonnes of virgin plastic from its Irish stores and replaced over 930 tonnes of unrecyclable material with recyclable alternatives. In addition to this, Aldi was voted Ireland’s most sustainable supermarket according to the Ireland RepTrak® Sustainability Index 2021.
Welcoming the award wins, John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director, said: “It’s a great honour to be awarded the titles of Overall Energy Achievement Award and Best Energy Achievement in Retail. Winning these awards recognises the great work our staff, suppliers and packaging partners have undertaken to reduce our energy use and carbon emissions. We understand that our customers are constantly looking for more sustainable ways to shop with us, and we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of our business.”