
Is “climate-neutral milk” just a marketing ploy at Aldi?
The consumer protection organization foodwatch accuses Aldi of deceiving customers.
The topic of climate protection has also reached the retail companies - at least in the marketing departments, because suddenly everyone is focusing on greater animal welfare, the reduction of plastic and climate protection. The latter has now brought the German discounter Aldi severe criticism from the consumer protection organization foodwatch.
In addition to plant-based drinks, the group also offers “climate-neutral” milk. However, an analysis by “foodwatch” cannot confirm this. On the contrary. Consumer advocates describe Aldi milk as a prime example of greenwashing.
Specifically, it is the discounter's country milk, which is sold as its own brand under the name FAIR & GUT.
At a price of 1.09 euros, the milk is not only inexpensive, but also supposedly climate-neutral. “Our first climate-neutral milk: All CO2 emissions that occur along the supply chain of our milk are completely offset by climate protection projects ,” Aldi describes the product on the Aldi Süd .
Aldi also explains how climate-neutral products are produced:
“For climate-neutral products, we completely offset all CO2 emissions that occur along the upstream supply chain up to the ALDI SÜD store. We achieve this by investing in certified climate protection projects. ALDI SÜD works closely with the climate protection experts from ClimatePartner .”
Source: Climate neutrality at Aldi
The milk is also sold at Aldi Nord.
In a press release from foodwatch dated June 22, 2022, which is published on the consumer advocate's website, Manuel Wiemann criticizes:
“Greenwashing with climate labels is trendy – the supposedly climate-neutral Aldi milk is a prime example of this. The discounter considers a product that is not climate-friendly per se with questionable CO2 certificates to be green.”
It further states:
“Consumers cannot rely on climate advertising at all. We need a ban on environmental advertising lies and finally effective climate protection laws that also make agriculture responsible.”
Source: foodwatch
The reproach
Aldi advertises its FAIR & GUT Landmilch 3.8% fat as “climate neutral” with the Climate Partner logo. The milk is sold as a private label at Aldi Nord and Süd and is produced by the Gropper dairy, which in turn is supplied with milk by many farmers. The criticism states: “Aldi does not specify to the dairy or the farmers involved how much they have to reduce their emissions. The Gropper dairy, and thus also Aldi, cannot even quantify the exact emissions of the milk and cows. This counteracts any climate protection.”
But since November 2020, this milk has been sold as “climate neutral”. This is despite the fact that there are currently no binding reduction measures for farmers. According to an analysis by foodwatch, neither the Gropper dairy nor Aldi itself have an overview of how high the greenhouse gas emissions of their suppliers are. Only from October - i.e. two years after the product was introduced as "climate neutral" - will "the exact emission values of the raw milk be available." The Gropper dairy is said to have announced to foodwatch in an email that they could start planning reduction measures if the greenhouse gas emissions of the individual milk supplying companies are available in the IST.
Compensation projects controversial
foodwatch also criticizes the fact that Aldi does not consistently reduce emissions from milk production, but instead buys certificates from compensation projects to offset CO2 emissions. Foodwatch describes two of these projects as “highly questionable” and refers to the ZDF magazine “Frontal” , which reported on a reforestation project in Uruguay.
“ In the project in Guarané, monocultures of eucalyptus are being created. The pesticides glyphosate and fipronil are used. Aldi also uses certificates from a controversial forest project in Tambopata, Peru. A foodwatch investigation last November showed that the project does not meet the requirements for compensation projects and is not allowed to issue climate protection certificates. The trading group Rewe subsequently stopped working with Tambopata ,” the press release says.
Manuel Wiemann from foodwatch finds clear words for this:
“Instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the farm as much as possible, Aldi is selling cheap indulgences. To offset emissions, the discounter relies on eucalyptus monocultures in which the agricultural poison glyphosate destroys biodiversity. Consumers who want to do something good for the environment by buying milk are being brazenly deceived.”
Climate Partner, the brokerage company with which Aldi works closely, rejects foodwatch's allegations, t-online
“The criticism of our climate protection projects does not take into account the fact that they are certified by strict standards and continually checked by independent, accredited auditors,”
quotes t-online Climate spokesman Dieter Niewierra.
Here too, consumer advocates counter and point to a study by the Oeko-Institut on behalf of the EU Commission, which shows a shocking result: “Only 2 percent of hundreds of certified compensation projects are very likely to keep their climate promises.”
foodwatch speaks of a declaration of bankruptcy for compensation projects and calls for mandatory reduction measures for greenhouse gases from agriculture and a ban on environmental advertising lies.
Climate advertising needs control
Foodwatch generally assesses climate advertising for animal products as critical. After all, three quarters of all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture come from animal husbandry. “The production of milk generates high amounts of greenhouse gases, which is why milk should generally not carry a 'climate neutral' label ,” is the criticism.
A proposal from the EU Commission for minimum standards for climate advertising is not enough for consumer advocates. The draft law has too many loopholes because it is still possible to describe climate-intensive products such as meat, heating oil and single-use plastic as “climate positive”.
“You cannot rely on the 'climate neutral' label. Advertising with 'climate neutrality' must generally be prohibited. The federal government must demand effective EU laws here.”
foodwatch
Sources: Aldi Süd , climate neutrality at Aldi , foodwatch , t-online
Research on the climate protection measures at Aldi milk
Research on the compensation project in Guanaré, Uruguay (afforestation)
ZDF Frontal article “Climate neutral with Aldi?
(June 21st) Research on the compensation project in Tambopata, Peru (forest protection)
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