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Mobility & logistics

[GRI 302/103-1, 305/103-1] To ensure that our customers always have fresh products and full shelves, we transport goods from our distribution centres to our stores every day. We undertake most of these transport journeys ourselves. In 2017, the ALDI North Group transported goods with a total volume of almost 31 million euro-pallet spaces between our 73 distribution centres and more than 4,700 stores. These transport journeys result in greenhouse gas emissions. Through a variety of measures, we are working to make our logistics as climate friendly as possible.

Our Approach

[GRI 302/103-2/3, 305/103-2/3] Our goal is to continuously increase the efficiency of our goods logistics, not least to mitigate the higher transport volume associated with our rising turnover. Modern logistics concepts help us pool the flow of goods and choose optimum transport routes, thereby shortening transport routes. The distance between a distribution centre and a store is 88 kilometres on average. Low rolling resistance tyres and roof spoilers, which reduce the drag coefficient of our transport vehicles, help reduce fuel consumption and save greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we make sure that the ALDI North Group’s trucks only leave our distribution centres with full payloads and train drivers in the Netherlands, for example, on how to drive fuel efficiently.

In Germany, we examined the use of alternative power units in 2017. A changeover programme is currently not planned. With regard to our fleet of company cars, we plan to sign short leasing agreements in future so as to develop a fleet of newer vehicles, thereby ensuring that more vehicles meet the latest fuel consumption and emission standards and operate in more climate-friendly manner.

Organisation & guidelines

[GRI 302/103-2] The development towards more climate-friendly logistics is being driven forward within Germany by the Logistics department of ALDI Buying and the regional companies. Communication on this issue is taking place with the ALDI North Group companies in the relevant countries. In May 2018, we adopted our International Climate Protection Policy.

Progress and measures in 2017

New logistics hub pools the flow of goods

[GRI 305/103-1/2] In 2017, we continued to expand our procurement logistics for wine and sparkling wine in Germany. To this end, we set up a logistics hub that pools the flow of goods, thereby cutting costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Conversion of distribution centres to LED lighting

[GRI 305/103-1/2] At our distribution centres, lighting is responsible for a large proportion of electricity consumption (up to 50 per cent). As a result, our efforts are increasingly focused on LED technology and the use of on-demand lighting using motion sensors. For more information, please refer to the chapter "Climate protection".

Inventory control system

The introduction of a logistics inventory control system that was announced in the Sustainability Report 2015 has yet to be completed in Germany. The first step is to introduce a pick-by-voice system at the German distribution centres, which will form the basis for comprehensive expansion in the future. Pick-by-voice allows us to pick orders using voice commands, without paper, leaving employees with both hands free for their work, which makes their jobs easier and leads to efficiency increases. As part of the roll-out, employees have received comprehensive training in working with the new system. In future, the inventory control system will allow us to provide even better analysis of our goods movements. A corresponding pilot project has been launched.

Targets and status

[GRI 302/103-2/3, 305/103-2/3]

Our targets from the CR Programme

Field of action: resource conservation

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

Examination of alternative drive concepts for use in logistics processes

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Examination

Germany

Establishment of a new BREEAM-certified central warehouse (BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment)

new

2019

Establishment

Belgium

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

Performance indicators

Number of vehicles

Number of vehicles on the reference date 31 December by type of vehicle

Number of trucks

Number of cars

Other vehicles1

Number of trucks

Number of cars

Other vehicles1

Number of trucks

Number of cars

Other vehicles1

Belgium/Luxembourg2

217

185

8

219

211

8

223

226

7

Denmark

56

89

5

56

92

5

52

100

4

Germany

909

909

74

880

969

75

736

1,125

74

France

238

314

23

234

349

25

227

349

22

Netherlands

200

188

8

189

201

8

173

211

8

Poland


64

2


82

2


76

2

Portugal


41

1


47

1


55

1

Spain


159



170

2


165

2

ALDI Nord Group

1,620

1,949

121

1,578

2,121

126

1,411

2,307

120

1These include industrial trucks (forklift trucks) and vehicles with LPG drives.
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").

Fuel consumption [GRI 302-1]

Fuel consumption of trucks, cars and other vehicles (in litres or kilograms of LPG)

Diesel1 (l)

Petrol (l)

LPG (kg)

Diesel1, 2 (l)

Petrol (l)

LPG (kg)

Diesel1 (l)

Petrol (l)

LPG (kg)

Belgium/Luxembourg3

4,215,607



4,322,031



4,407,171



Denmark

1,513,990


913

1,480,176

595

330

1,412,919

339

66

Germany

16,335,662

7,368

21,365

16,863,778

2,266

21,270

17,419,921

1,698

20,655

France

5,858,537


9,737

5,730,617


9,828

5,913,078


10,116

Netherlands

3,626,422



3,687,240



3,526,601



Poland

144,629


1,386

158,452


567

180,340


1,331

Portugal

100,883


600

108,132


500

120,112


300

Spain

404,581



415,182


2,828

423,613


4,059

ALDI Nord Group

32,200,311

7,368

34,001

32,765,608

2,861

35,323

33,403,755

2,037

36,527

1 Including consumption of heating oil for operation of cooling motors (outside Germany).
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").

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GRI

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