Animal Welfare
Caring for our planet includes considering all creatures great and small. ALDI is committed to the highest industry standards of animal welfare across our supply chain, and we work closely with our suppliers to continually improve animal welfare. We regularly review our animal welfare standards and policies to align with industry best practice. Find out more below.
Why we care
Prioritising animal welfare is an important part of being a responsible business. We believe that animals should experience positive health and wellbeing and be allowed to exhibit natural behaviours.
ALDI acknowledges the ‘Five Freedoms’
Our approach to animal welfare is guided by the globally recognised ‘Five Freedoms’ developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC). The ‘Five Freedoms’ are:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst – by providing ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease – by prevention, or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
- Freedom from fear and distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment avoid mental suffering.
Our animal welfare management requirements
ALDI’s animal welfare strategies and policies are agreed upon at a national level and developed in consultation with industry and other key stakeholders. When we make contractual arrangements with suppliers, animal welfare requirements form part of these agreements. This ensures that all ALDI suppliers are responsible for the implementation of our policies.
We provide training on animal welfare topics to all buyers of animal products. It’s also expected that all our suppliers provide adequate training to all parties involved with the direct handling of animals throughout the supply chain.
If a supplier is found to be non-compliant with our animal welfare policies, our Sustainability and Quality Assurance teams work with the supplier to resolve this. If issues remain unresolved, or the same non-compliance issues are repeated, ALDI will take further action. This may include, but is not limited to, excluding a supplier from the supply chain.
All processing facilities for our fresh beef, lamb, pork sold at ALDI is certified by the Australian Livestock Processing Industry Animal Welfare Certification System (AAWCS). When you see this logo on a pack, it means the meat you are purchasing is certified against an independently audited animal welfare program.
Cage-free eggs
The ‘cage free’ label on an egg carton means that the hens that laid the eggs were not confined in cages. Cage-free means the eggs were laid by hens living in barns, allowing them the freedom to move around; these are 'Barn Laid' eggs. Some barns also have outdoor access, known as ‘Free range’.
ALDI has a commitment to achieve 100% cage-free shell eggs across all brands sold and 100% cage-free eggs as ingredients across ALDI exclusive brands by the end of 2025 (excluding egg derivatives, additives and processing aids).
To ensure quality and food safety, all ALDI eggs must be produced to the Egg Standards of Australia (ESA). The ESA covers aspects of hen welfare, egg quality, biosecurity, work health and safety, and environmental management. We use a cooperative approach with suppliers to make continuous improvements that may extend over and above industry standards.
Meat Chicken Welfare
100% of ALDI-branded fresh and frozen chicken is either RSPCA Approved (Indoor or Outdoor systems) or Free-Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA) certified.
RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme
RSPCA Approved is Australia's leading certification program focused on farm animal welfare. The RSPCA Approved logo means that chickens:
- Have enriched indoor environments to prioritise their behavioural and physical needs.
- Have room to move and quality lighting regimes, encouraging them to be active.
- Can perch and rest to keep their bones and muscles strong.
- Enjoy dry, friable litter covering the floor to scratch and dustbathe.
For Outdoor systems, chickens also have access to an outdoor area, known as 'Free range'.
You can read more on the standard here.
Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA)
The FREPA standards are based on the principles of the Five Freedoms for better animal welfare.
- Birds have regular access to enriched and safe outdoor areas
- Birds are routinely assessed and reviewed for flock health and welfare
- Indoor housing facilities must provide a safe and comfortable environment
- Birds are provided with nutritious feed and clean water
- Procedures and infrastructure are in place to protect birds from predators at all times
You can read more on the FREPA standard here.
Independently audited pork
100% of ALDI’s fresh pork products are independently audited to the Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance (APIQ) standard. This means that our fresh pork comes from systems that meet the APIQ Gestation Stall Free (GSF) standard. Under this standard, sows and gilts are kept in loose housing from at least five days after mating until one week before farrowing where they have freedom of movement (they can turn around and extend their limbs).
Fish and seafood sourcing
We prioritise products certified by independent third-parties such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for all of our ALDI branded fish and seafood products.
Learn more here.
Animal welfare and our non-food products
Animal testing is not permitted on any ALDI branded finished products for health and beauty, or detergents and cleaners.
We do not offer any products containing angora wool or real fur and we prohibit live plucking of feathers and force feeding. To ensure the ethical treatment of sheep, we contractually prohibit our business partners from using the ‘mulesing’ procedure.
No monkey labour used in ALDI-branded food products
Our policy is that no monkey labour can be used in the harvesting of coconuts and coconut ingredients for all ALDI-branded food products.
How you can support animal welfare
If you love animals as much as we do, keep an eye out for the following labels the next time you are shopping at ALDI. And why not encourage your friends and family to do the same? Together, we can speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
