How Aldi South is Supporting Sustainable Fishing
The Aldi South Group has become the first global food retailer to include the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) newest improvement programme into its sourcing policy.
Launched in October 2024, it is designed to provide support to fisheries and incentives to become more sustainable, if they make measurable improvements over a five-year window.
Created as a way to aid fisheries across the world – regardless of their size or location – to make the necessary changes to meet the MSC Fisheries Standard.
Fisheries on a journey towards greater sustainability
Anke Ehlers, Managing Director of International Sustainability at ALDI SOUTH Group, says this will help support fisheries become more sustainable.
"As an international food retailer we rely on global certification schemes, such as the MSC, to source sustainable seafood. But we also know that the most urgent improvements for the health of our ocean lie with fisheries that are not yet ready for certification.
"By engaging in the MSC Improvement Programme, we will support such fisheries on a journey towards greater sustainability and contribute to measurable environmental improvements in the way fisheries operate."
ALDI Nord (North) and ALDI Süd (South) are two separate legal entities that make up the ALDI group.
ALDI Nord is responsible for stores in Northern Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain. ALDI Süd is responsible for stores in Southern Germany, Australia, China, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the US.
Assurance that fisheries improvements are verified and timely
Brought in to complement the existing Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), which work globally. As many businesses are already sourcing seafood from FIPs as part of their sustainable sourcing commitments, the effectiveness and impact of these projects can vary significantly.
With the improvement programme, the MSC will provide stronger assurance that fisheries improvements are verified and timely. The programme will recognise fisheries from the most effective FIPs – as well as other engaged fisheries, with the aim of a full assessment against the MSC Fisheries Standard within five years.
Those fisheries taking part in the MSC improvement programme will not be eligible to use the MSC eco-label as their catch is not certified sustainable. But, once minimum performance requirements have been met across all indicators and specific traceability requirements are satisfied, they can obtain access to the MSC-certified supply chains.
Plus, an added incentive: retail products containing their seafood can display a back-of-pack statement indicating their participation in the improvement programme.
Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC's Head of Fishery Standard Accessibility, adds: "The MSC Improvement Programme offers a new solution to commercial companies which want to support fisheries on their way towards sustainability and seek greater assurance around their FIPs and faster progress towards MSC certification.
"By including the programme in its sourcing policy, ALDI SOUTH Group is leading the way in demonstrating market demand for products from Improvement Programme fisheries. We hope to see many more retailers follow in the coming months."
Successfully reaching MSC standard
The new MSC programme builds on a previous pilot initiative, which ran from 2020 to 2024. During this phase, 16 fisheries from South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Nicaragua and Peru, as well as one Scottish fishery, were successively included in the programme.
The first fishery to successfully complete the programme during the pilot phase was part of the South African Pole & Line Albacore tuna fishery. Following the implementation of improvements in data collection, monitoring by independent observers, implementation of management rules and minimisation of bycatch of endangered species, particularly seabirds, this fishery was able to meet the MSC standard and get certified in an independent certification process in August 2024.
Explore the latest edition of Procurement Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Procurement Magazine is a BizClik brand