Aldi

In October, 2019, Aldi released a written, publicly available pollinator health policy for produce, live plant and flower suppliers. The policy encourages suppliers to transition away from neonicotinoid and chlorpyrifos pesticides toward alternative approaches that limit non-essential use of pesticides whenever possible, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. The policy states that suppliers should avoid regrettable substitutes, or the replacement of one hazardous pesticide with another. The policy also states that Aldi supports and encourages the growth of the organic industry as demonstrated by the company’s expanded offerings.

Aldi’s policy does not include any time bound or measurable commitments to phase out pesticides of concern in its supply chains. Aldi’s policy does not include glyphosate or other pesticides of concern to pollinator or human health. While Aldi’s policy identifies the need to shift to least-toxic approaches like IPM in order to avoid regrettable substitutions, it does not provide suppliers with additional information about which pesticides would be considered regrettable substitutes.

Commitment to reduce pesticide use

6 out of 15 points

Avoiding regrettable substitutes

1 out of 5 points

Commitment to least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

1 out of 10 points

Commitment to expand organic

5 out of 15 points

Aldi sends a mandatory survey to suppliers during the initial contract process and then annually during contract renewal requiring suppliers to disclose whether products were grown with chlorpyrifos and neonicotinoids.

Aldi has not taken any other discernible action to reduce use of pesticides of concern to pollinator and human health or expand organic farming and other least-toxic approaches in its supply chains. The actions we evaluated include: 1) tracking use of pesticides in company supply chains, 2) measurably reducing pesticide use in the past three years and publicly reporting on data, 3) supporting farmers in non-organic supply chains to shift to least-toxic approaches such as integrated pest management and regenerative agriculture, 4) measurably expanding organic offerings in the past three years, 5) demonstrating support for U.S. growers to transition to organic farming, and 6) demonstrating advocacy for public policies aimed at reducing agricultural pesticide use, protecting pollinators and supporting the expansion of organic agriculture in the U.S.

Track pesticide use in supply chain

3 out of 10 points

Measurably reduce pesticide use

0 out of 15 points

Support farmers to implement least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

0 out of 20 points

Measurably expand organic

5 out of 25 points

Support domestic organic growers

0 out of 15 points

Support public policies

0 out of 5 points

Aldi’s pollinator health policy is publicly available on the company’s website. The policy encourages suppliers to transition away from neonicotinoid and chlorpyrifos pesticides and states that Aldi supports and encourages the growth of the organic industry as demonstrated by the company’s expanded offerings. Aldi confirmed by email to Friends of the Earth that the company includes total organic sales in company Key Performance Indicators. Aldi educates consumers about organic food by including a complete definition of the USDA organic seal on its website. The website states: “All organic food must be produced in adherence with USDA Organic guidelines. These guidelines include, but are not limited to, the avoidance of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, growth hormones, and irradiation. To learn more, please visit the USDA Organic Standards website. According to the USDA, organic products must also be produced with a focus on protecting natural resources and conserving biodiversity.”

Aldi does not appear to include reduction of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health in company Key Performance Indicators or other formal sustainability criteria. Aldi does not have educational content online on the value to pollinator and human health of decreasing use of toxic pesticides and expanding organic offerings.

Make policies and commitments publicly available

6 out of 6 points

Oversight

2.5 out of 5 points

Educate consumers

2 out of 10 points

Aldi has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year.

Aldi’s pollinator health policy encourages live plant and flower suppliers to transition away from use of neonicotinoids toward least-toxic approaches like Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Aldi has not made a timebound or measurable commitment to phase out use of neonicotinoids in live plant and flower supply chains.

Aldi has not made a public commitment to remove neonicotinoid or glyphosate products from store shelves.

Policy for live goods

4 out of 4 points

Policy for on-shelf pesticide products

0 out of 5 points