International Buying Policy for Cotton - ALDI Nord
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International Buying Policy for Cotton January 2020
Our commitment
Simplicity, consistency and responsibility: To promote the environmentally and socially
for over 100 years, these traditional business responsible production of the goods we offer,
values have formed the foundation of ALDI’s1 we will increase the use of sustainable cotton
success. It is this success, which forms the and ensure that only sustainable cotton is
basis of our efforts to further develop our used for our own-brand products and house-
operations and assume more responsibility hold textiles from 2025 onwards.
for our supply chains. Our aim is to
contribute towards positive and sustainable
development wherever possible.
Cotton accounts for the majority of all fibres
used in the garments and household textiles
offered by ALDI. According to the Food and
Agriculture Organisation of the United
Nations (FAO)2 , the key countries of cotton
cultivation (with regard to raw fibre vol-
umes) are China, India and the USA. There
are around 250 million people in over 80
countries worldwide involved in the
production of cotton, primarily in developing
and emerging countries. Whilst cotton is a
renewable natural resource that is fully
biodegradable, it is also linked to social,
economic, and ecological risks in the
countries where it is grown.
1
“ALDI” refers to the ALDI SOUTH Group (hereinafter also referred to
as “ALDI SOUTH”) and the ALDI North Group (hereinafter also referred to
as “ALDI North”). Both business groups are legally independent groups
of retail companies trading under the ALDI brand.
2
www.fao.org/faostat
International Buying Policy for Cotton | As of January 2020 Seite
Page 2
Our approach
Our everyday decisions as responsible re- ALDI’s sustainable sourcing of cotton goals
tailers have an impact on our entire supply have been developed by the Corporate Re-
chain. ALDI has always focussed on establish- sponsibility, Buying, and Quality Assurance
ing close and reliable working relationships Departments and will then be implemented
with its business partners. We assume a in collaboration with our business partners
shared responsibility for the preservation of and other relevant stakeholder groups, such
natural resources and we will work together as scheme owners.
in order to achieve the goal defined within
this ‘International Buying Policy for Cotton’. This ‘International Buying Policy for Cotton’
governs the purchase of own-brand products
The current version of the ‘International made from or containing cotton in the area of
Buying Policy for Cotton’ forms a binding garments and household textiles. This policy
framework and requirement for ALDI and its and its goals constitute a binding require-
business partners. ALDI will only collaborate ment for the tendering and buying processes.
with those who conduct their business in ac- ALDI has appropriately informed its business
cordance with our commitment to sustainable partners involved in the production of own-
cotton sourcing. brand products regarding the content and
goals of the policy. This policy will be re-
ALDI is collaborating together with other com- viewed and updated on an ongoing and
panies, certification schemes and other stake- regular basis.
holders to enhance sustainable cotton culti-
vation and to improve existing systems. We The most recent and applicable version of
welcome individual sustainability projects and the ‘International Buying Policy for Cotton’ is
initiatives undertaken and promoted by our published on the websites of ALDI SOUTH
business partners concerning the cultivation and ALDI North.
of cotton, as well as any information that they
proactively publish on the measures taken and
developments achieved.
International Buying Policy for Cotton | As of January 2020 Seite
Page 3Our implementation
We have made a commitment to the By using these standards, we are focussing
following goal: on the sustainable cultivation of raw mate-
rials. However, we are also committed to
compliance with social and environmental
standards during the processing of cotton.
Use of 100 % We prohibit our business partners from using
cotton sourced from countries where cul-
sustainable cotton tivation and harvesting are systematically
associated with human rights violations. For
by 2025 example, ALDI has contractually prohibited
the use of cotton grown in Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan for the production of its mer-
chandise.
Together with our business partners, we are As part of our 100 % goal, we actively pro-
committed to social, ecological and eco- mote the topic of sustainable cotton by
nomic standards with regard to achieving providing a wide variety of information on
long-term sustainable improvements in the our product packaging, as well as via a
cultivation of cotton. number of other communication channels.
More information on actions through which
By 2025, we will therefore require the cotton we promote sustainable cotton cultivation is
used for our own-brand products to be of available on the ALDI SOUTH and ALDI North
either recycled origin or certified according to websites.
one of the following internationally recog-
nised sustainability standards:
• FAIRTRADE
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
• Organic Content Standard (OCS) 100/blended
• Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)
• Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
International Buying Policy for Cotton | As of January 2020 Seite
Page 4Fairtrade
Fairtrade gives the cotton growers the security Depending on the share of organically produced
to sell their cotton at a fixed minimum price, fibres contained, the certified product displays
which covers the costs associated with sus- either the “OCS blended” logo (contains at least
tainable production. In addition, smallholder co- 5%) or the “OCS 100” logo (contains 95-100%).
operatives receive a Fairtrade premium, which ALDI requires cotton in OCS
is then invested in community projects. The blended labelled products to
Fairtrade standards not only cover social and be of 100% organic origin and
economic criteria: in terms of ecologically sus- only allows blending with non-
tainable agriculture, Fairtrade also promotes cotton materials. Further
environmentally friendly information is available here:
cultivation practices, textileexchange.org/integrity
while prohibiting genetic
engineering and regulating Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)
the use of pesticides. Further Following the principle of 'helping others to help
information is available here: themselves', Cotton made in Africa provides
fairtrade.net/ smallholders with training in modern, efficient,
and environmentally friendly cultivation meth-
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) ods. In addition to this, it also imparts basic
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) knowledge of business and economics. Prefinan-
defines globally consistent and rigorous criteria cing measures, the protection of natural conser-
for the processing of textiles made from certi- vation areas, and the ban of genetically modified
fied organic natural fibres throughout the entire cotton-seed are just as much a
supply chain. These criteria include the controlled part of the CmiA standard as
organic harvesting of fibres, environmentally compliance with the ILO core
friendly and socially responsible production and labour standards and the
consistent labelling of products. Compliance with promotion of women's equal
the guidelines is verified throughout the supply rights. Further information is
chain with regard to the use of chemical addi- available at:
tives and the core labour standards of the Inter- cottonmadeinafrica.org/en
national Labour Organisation (ILO). Only textile
products, which contain at least 70% Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
organically produced natural The Better Cotton Initiative seeks to reduce the
fibres may receive GOTS negative impacts of cotton production on people
certification. This certification and planet. The basic principles of the BCI
needs to be issued by an include the elimination of harmful pesticides
independent testing institute. and the efficient use of water, the preservation of
Further information is available soil fertility, as well as the
at: global-standard.org/ compliance with minimum
social criteria and the
Organic Content Standard (OCS) prohibition of child and forced/
The Organic Content Standard (OCS) enables bonded labour. Further
the exact share of ecologically sound materials information is available
contained in a product to be recorded. The OCS here: bettercotton.org
tracks the use of certified, organically produced
natural fibres, from the creation of the individual
fibres to the finished product.
International Buying Policy for Cotton | As of January 2020 Seite
Page 5ALDI Nord Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG
Corporate Responsibility
Ruhrallee 307-309
45136 Essen
Further information on our activities in the
area of corporate responsibility can be found
at cr-aldinord.com
This International Buying Policy for Cotton is available in English and German.
In case of deviations between both versions, the English document will prevail.
International Buying Policy for Cotton | As of January 2020 Seite 6You can also read
