Reducing Hazardous Chemicals in Production
Since 2015, ALDI has been committed to reducing the use of harmful chemicals in our textile and footwear production. Across the whole ALDI SOUTH Group, we have set ambitious standards and introduced comprehensive chemical management across all tiers in the supply chain for our textiles and footwear products.
We will continue to increase the scope of our work to address further environmental impacts, ranging from strengthening our commitment to more sustainable material sourcing to raising awareness of opportunities to buy more sustainably.
"Better Lives through Better Business" campaign
In 2021, the ALDI SOUTH Group was one of 23 organisations to be featured in the "Better Lives through Better Business" campaign presented by the Consumer Goods Forum and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
The film below shows the success of our work in reducing the negative impacts of chemical-based production processes used in the textile and footwear industry. Since 2015, our actions in this matter have positively affected workers, local communities and the environment.
For more information, visit our international page.
Increasing Transparency in our Supply Chain
To provide our customers with greater transparency, we are publishing the addresses and number of employees of all our main production facilities used for the manufacturing of garment textiles, household textiles and shoes purchased by the ALDI SOUTH Group. We are also an official contributor to the Open Supply Hub (OSH).
Find more about the ALDI SOUTH Group supply chain transparency here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the chemicals used in some textile and shoe supply chains harmful?
Within the textile and shoe supply chain there may be chemicals present which cause harm to the human body as well as the environment. These may include chemicals that are hormone disruptors or carcinogenic (can cause cancer). These chemicals can also be toxic once washed into the waterways, negatively impacting aquatic life and local ecosystems. This is why ALDI has made a commitment to eliminate harmful chemicals from our textile and shoe supply chains.
Are ALDI’s products free of PFCs?
Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), among other uses, are used to create finishes and coatings which provide fabrics with water and oil-repellent properties. The health effects of PFCs on humans are currently uncertain. However, in studies of laboratory animals given large amounts of PFCs, growth, development and reproduction were affected. Eliminating these chemicals is important which is why we continue to find substitutes and source PFC-free alternatives when producing water repellent textiles, such as our snow gear.