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Climate Protection

[GRI 302/103-1/2, 305/103-1/2] We are committed to reducing the impact of our business operations on the climate. Back in 2015, we specified in our Corporate Responsibility (CR) Policy that we aim to act in a climate friendly manner. We have set an ambitious climate target for ourselves in our Climate Protection Policy, adopted in 2018, in which we establish the framework for taking extensive action. Through these efforts, we are doing our part to help achieve the targets specified in the Paris Climate Agreement* and realise Sustainable Development Goal 13 “Climate action” outlined in Agenda 2030 of the United Nations (UN).

Our approach

[GRI 302/103-2/3, 305/103-2/3] ALDI North has set a clear climate target for itself: We undertake to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Group by 40 per cent by 2021 compared to our 2015 levels. This target applies to all emissions that we ourselves cause in the course of our business activities (Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions). Our targets and measures have been compiled in our International Climate Protection Policy.

Our climate strategy has a long-term trajectory and two key focal points:

  • We seek to save energy, refrigerants and fuel through efficiency measures, and we are starting with those areas where consumption is greatest.
  • We aim to draw more electricity from renewable energy sources. This includes generating renewable electricity ourselves as well as purchasing it more and more frequently.

Our carbon footprint breaks down our greenhouse gas emissions by emission source and provides us with starting points for our climate protection measures. It is determined in accordance with the internationally recognised standard set by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and audited by a certified auditor.

Our most significant emission sources at a glance
  • Stores: Our stores use the most energy for refrigerating food, lighting the retail space and heating, which is typical in the retail industry.
  • Refrigeration: Cooling our products requires the use of refrigerants. Refrigerants can escape through leaks into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
  • Logistics: Around one eighth of our Group-wide greenhouse gas emissions are due to diesel consumption by trucks. Refer to „Mobility & logistics“.
  • Distribution centres: Lighting is responsible for a significant portion (up to 50 per cent) of the electricity consumed at our distribution centres.

To ensure that climate protection efforts are made consistently across operations, climate protection must become a business variable, which is why we will be setting an internal price per tonne of CO2 over the course of 2018. The plan is to apply this price to all emissions-relevant investment decisions. By taking these steps, we aim to make climate protection an integral part of our business processes.

Organisation & responsibilities

[GRI 302/103-2/3, 305/103-2/3] Climate protection entails collaboration among, and the expertise of, various departments. At the same time, we must guarantee our ability to respond rapidly and flexibly to new technological developments and policy frameworks. We therefore ensure that all departments, divisions and groups of experts involved in climate protection efforts (CR, Real Estate and Expansion, Refrigeration, Logistics) engage in regular dialogue with each other as part of an expert committee.

Guidelines & regulations

Our International Climate Protection Policy provides the framework for our climate protection measures for the entire Group. It was adopted in spring 2018.

In terms of legislation, the European Union’s (EU) regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions, which aims to cut emissions across the EU by 2030, is particularly relevant to us. Fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions are generated as part of our operations in particular due to refrigeration.

Progress & measures in 2017

[GRI 302/103-1/2, 305/103-1/2]

Climate strategy with a specific range of measures developed

We finished developing the ALDI North climate strategy in the 2017 reporting year. As part of the development process, we assessed climate protection projects that have already been carried out and explored potential new avenues for taking climate action. The analysis revealed a wide range of potential climate protection measures. Using individual criteria, the ALDI companies of a given country decide which of these measures is most suitable for reaching their country-specific climate targets.

Stores: innovative technology lowers energy consumption

Lighting the retail space accounts for around one quarter of a store’s electricity consumption, which is why LED lighting technology has been installed at new stores in all countries since 2016. Such technology uses up to 50 per cent less electricity than our previous lighting system. In 2017, we began switching over the lighting systems for the retail space at our existing stores in most countries to LED, including the lighting used for the chiller cabinets and freezers. As LEDs generate less heat than other types of lighting, less electricity is needed for cooling purposes. At our updated stores, we are reducing the need for artificial lighting through windows that extend to the ground and take a needs-based approach to lighting our retail spaces outside of opening hours. We also use LED technology to light outdoor areas, parking lots, storerooms and side rooms.

Refrigeration represents another aspect for greater climate protection efforts at our stores. Frozen items are presented in freezer cabinets, including upright freezers at our new stores. For our stores in Germany, for example, we now only purchase freezer cabinets that use natural refrigerants. Thanks to regulated speed compressors and LED lighting, these freezers use up to 35 per cent less electricity than older models of the same size. Since 2017, most new and renovated stores in Germany have been using CO2 refrigeration technology for the chiller cabinets. The integrated CO2 systems in new buildings are also used for heating. They recover the heat from the refrigeration process, in addition to the heat from the exhaust air.

The new technology will be joined by a comprehensive energy data management system. We rolled out a system for all of our stores and distribution centres in Germany in 2017 which provides up-to-date data on energy consumption. We are using an energy management system at 40 stores in Spain to digitally record and centrally assess energy use among the main consumers. We will be introducing an energy management system in conformity with ISO 50001 in the Netherlands in 2018.

Refrigerants: less loss and climate-friendly alternatives

Reducing the refrigerant leak rate is an important element in our climate strategy. In addition to regular leakage tests, we completed the nationwide rollout of a digital monitoring system at our German locations in 2017. Data recording and evaluation enable the system to provide a rapid overview of all the cooling systems. We are currently working on the system’s nationwide rollout in France and the Netherlands.

At the same time, we have begun to increasingly replace the refrigerants used to date with climate-friendlier alternatives. In Germany, we are gradually switching over all (deep-)freezers to the natural refrigerant propane (R290), which has very low global warming potential. Our new CO2 cooling systems use CO2 as a refrigerant.

Between 2015 and 2017, we reduced emissions resulting from refrigerant losses by 16 per cent to around 99,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Distribution centres: efficient and needs-based lighting

In Belgien und Deutschland planen wir in unseren Logistikzentren eine Umrüstung der Beleuchtung auf LED; in Dänemark ist dies bereits erfolgt. Zum Jahresende 2017 hatten wir in der gesamten Unternehmensgruppe bereits 27 von 73 Logistikzentren auf LED-Technik umgerüstet; zwei der Lager wurden zum Ende 2017 geschlossen. Insgesamt erwarten wir durch die Umstellung eine jährliche Einsparung von bis zu 3.000 Tonnen CO2-Emissionen. Darüber hinaus evaluieren wir in den Logistikzentren den Einsatz von bedarfsangepasster Beleuchtung mit Bewegungsmeldern und Lichtsensoren.

Renewable energy: more green electricity by 2021

The roofs of many stores and distribution centres are equipped with photovoltaic systems. In 2017, the installed capacity of our systems already stood at more than 32,000 kWp (kilowatt peak) and produced more than 23,000 MWh of electricity. We avoided some 6,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions as a result. By 2021, we intend to install an additional nominal capacity of more than 50,000 kWp through more systems. Plans call for 120 systems at ALDI France alone. In 2018/19, another 18 systems will join the 40 others already installed at ALDI Belgium. At the end of 2017, ALDI Portugal already had 16 solar installations in place, and plans call for installing around 5,000 kWp of additional capacity there by 2021.

We currently use approximately 70 per cent of the generated electricity ourselves; the remainder is fed into the power grid. We want to increase the amount of energy for own use, which is why we are testing the use of storage technology that would enable us to use the generated electricity at a later time. To this end, ALDI North Germany has already equipped three pilot stores with an innovative ice storage system as part of the ESyCool green project. In February 2018, our project partner Viessmann received the German Innovation Award for Climate and the Environment (IKU) 2017 for this solution in the category for process innovations. We will decide on the system’s further rollout once the test phase is complete.

Despite additional photovoltaic systems, we will still draw the majority of our electricity from the grid in the years ahead. In order to meet our climate target, we are therefore currently planning to draw more green electricity by 2021. ALDI Netherlands began fully sourcing its electricity from green sources back in 2015. In 2017, the electricity was drawn entirely from wind power from Europe. As a result, we saved more than 40,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2017. We are currently developing strict criteria for the purchase of green electricity.

Targets & status

[GRI 302/103-2/3, 305/103-2/3] In our Climate Protection Policy, we have set ourselves the goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2021 compared to our 2015 levels. In the name of efficient monitoring, we regularly compile updates on the progress of projects and emission data for the entire Group. The CR department then assesses this information and analyses it within the expert committee established for that purpose. If a given measure does not produce the intended effect, new measures are then discussed. We regularly report to internal and external stakeholders on where we stand as a Group in our efforts to reach our climate target.

Our targets from the CR Programme

Field of action: resource conservation

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2021 compared to the reference year 2015

new

2021

-40% compared to 2015

ALDI Nord Group

Introduction of LED lighting in all new stores (interior and outdoor lighting), and review of conversion of existing stores in the portfolio and distribution centres to LED lighting

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2019 (and ongoing)

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Increasing the share of stores equipped with photovoltaic systems

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Development of a concept for recording, analysing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Concept

ALDI Nord Group

Development of a concept for the introduction of an energy monitoring and management system

Target for Germany achieved

2017

Concept

ALDI Nord Group

Nationwide ISO 50001 certification

new

2018

100%

Netherlands

Increasing the own-use rate for the energy generated in-house by photovoltaic systems at stores through combination with concepts for integrated cooling and heating systems, and demand-led alignment of the photovoltaic systems

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

Germany

Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

100%

Germany

Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

100%

Netherlands

Gradual changeover of all plug-in chillers and freezers to the refrigerant propane (R290) with very low Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

100%

Germany

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North Target achieved Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North Ongoing process

Performance indicators

Direct energy consumption [GRI 302-1]

Direct energy consumption in buildings and logistics by country (in MWh)*

The biggest part of direct energy consumption is attributable to the use of natural gas for heat generation, and to diesel used as a fuel in logistics. Total consumption decreased slightly compared with 2016.

2015

20162

20171

Check Icon – Nachhaltigkeit bei ALDI Nord

Belgium/Luxembourg3

108,941

109,576

111,286

Denmark

20,962

20,692

19,766

Germany

386,112

402,431

397,002

France

149,429

143,479

147,787

Netherlands

84,156

86,055

80,058

Poland

12,896

14,905

16,639

Portugal

1,013

1,084

1,206

Spain

4,177

4,449

4,731

ALDI Nord Group

767,686

782,671

778,475

1 The data are partly based on estimates and extrapolations.
2 Late reporting information for the year 2016 resulted in partial amendments compared with the previous year’s report.
3 The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

Direct energy consumption by source [GRI 302-1]

Direct energy consumption in buildings and logistics by energy source (in MWh)1

2015

2016

2017

Natural gas

418,129

429,621

418,921

Heating oil

27,589

25,321

25,509

Biogas

154

89

67

Diesel (incl. diesel generators)

321,314

327,163

333,492

Petrol

66

26

18

Liquefied petroleum gas

434

451

466

1 The data are partly based on estimates and extrapolations

Indirect energy consumption [GRI 302-1]

Electricity and district heating consumption (in MWh)1

Electricity consumption at nearly 990 GWh is responsible for the biggest share of energy demand at our locations. It increased slightly year on year by around 6 per cent. The increase is due to a number of factors, including longer opening hours and the installation of additional chillers and baking ovens at stores.

Total

Electricity

District heating

Total

Electricity

District heating

Total

Electricity

District heating

Belgium/Luxembourg3

88,411

88,411


89,559

89,559


101,354

101,354


Denmark

50,569

39,659

10,910

51,141

39,739

11,402

50,470

39,855

10,615

Germany

451,014

433,393

17,621

463,361

445,897

17,464

472,279

454,553

17,726

France

177,762

177,762


167,805

167,805


180,752

180,752


Netherlands

79,780

78,779

1,001

82,177

81,077

1,100

84,669

83,716

953

Poland

17,394

16,110

1,284

20,429

18,606

1,823

25,335

22,173

3,162

Portugal

14,113

14,113


14,884

14,884


17,720

17,720


Spain

79,694

79,694


79,070

79,070


89,029

89,029


ALDI Nord Group

958,737

927,921

30,816

968,426

936,637

31,789

1,021,608

989,152

32,456

1 The data are partly based on estimates and extrapolations.
2 Late reporting information for the year 2016 resulted in partial amendments compared with the previous year’s report.
3 The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

Greenhouse gas emissions Scope 1 and 2 [GRI 305-1/2]

Greenhouse gas emissions Scope 1 and 2 (in tonnes of CO2 equivalents)

Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated on the basis of energy and fuel consumption, and refrigerant losses. The calculation is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol using the DEFRA emission factors or GEMIS for emissions from the sourcing of district heating. In accordance with the GHG Protocol, Scope 2 emissions from electricity consumption have been calculated separately by location-based and market-based emission factors. While the location-based method uses the factors for a certain geographical region (such as a country), a company’s individual electricity mix is used – wherever possible – for the market-based factors by way of the emissions actually generated by the energy producer. The calculation of location-based greenhouse gas emissions is based on the factors specified by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Scope 11

Scope 22
„location-based“

Scope 22
„market-based“

Scope 11

Scope 22, 3
„location-based“

Scope 22, 3
„market-based“

Scope 11

Scope 22
„location-based“

Scope 22
„market-based“

Belgium/Luxembourg4

42,096

17,782

15,781

40,328

18,656

13,246

38,639

22,674

14,859

Denmark

11,104

13,241

8,973

10,466

11,372

10,914

14,942

8,119

10,859

Germany

120,089

214,793

262,533

110,178

211,664

38,301

108,069

203,918

223,,790

France

74,861

11,350

2,666

75,277

6,863

6,276

67,101

8,364

6,756

Netherlands

31,253

35,044

72

29,802

38,393

143

28,147

40,984

124

Poland

3,940

12,866

13,488

5,501

14,688

15,185

6,931

17,295

18,441

Portugal

1,529

3,964

6,180

2,817

3,793

4,334

5,728

5,695

5,080

Spain

12,239

19,467

30,218

12,267

20,096

26,774

10,980

25,718

29,854

ALDI Nord Group

297,111

328,507

339,911

286,636

325,525

115,173

280,537

332,767

309,763

1 Scope 1: Emissions from direct energy consumption in buildings, fuel consumption for logistics and refrigerant losses.
2 Scope 2: Emissions from the consumption of electricity and district heating, broken down by location- and market-based emissions.
3 Late reporting information for the year 2016 resulted in partial amendments compared with the previous year’s report.
4 The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

Greenhouse gas emissions Scope 1 and 2 by sources 2016 & 2017 [GRI 305-1/2]

Total amount of greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1 and 2 proportionately by source (in per cent, based on location-based emissions)

Greenhouse gas emissions – Sustainability at ALDI North

Installed capacity of photovoltaic systems

Installed capacity of photovoltaic systems (in kWp)

2015

2016

2017

Belgium/Luxembourg1

438

1,095

2,594

Denmark

35

45

45

Germany

11,526

19,537

26,708

France



273

Netherlands

149

149

209

Poland




Portugal

866

990

1,466

Spain

732

804

850

ALDI Nord Group

13,746

22,620

32,145

The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

In-house electricity production [GRI 302-1]

Electricity generated from photovoltaic systems and in-house consumption (in MWh)

Electricity generated

In-house consumption

Electricity generated

In-house consumption

Electricity generated

In-house consumption

Belgium/Luxembourg1

275

251

815

659

1,809

1,629

Denmark

10

10

47

47

41

29

Germany

7,498

4,575

13,445

8,752

18,261

11,967

France





125

102

Netherlands

150

115

156

124

156

123

Poland







Portugal

25

25

1,085

864

1,537

1,285

Spain

205

174

391

321

1,224

1,224

ALDI Nord Group

8,163

5,150

15,939

10,767

23,153

16,359

The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

* Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an agreement between the 195 member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Adopted on 12 December 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, it aims to limit anthropogenic global warming to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.

SDG

GRI

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