Aldi South in MSC Improvement Programme first
Aldi South Group has become the first food retailer globally to incorporate the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) new Improvement Programme into its sourcing policy.
Launched in October 2024, the programme supports fisheries worldwide by offering assistance and incentives to improve sustainability over a five-year period.
Fisheries engaged in the programme are required to demonstrate measurable improvements to meet the MSC Fisheries Standard, which enhances the credibility and impact of fishery improvement projects (FIP).
“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,” said Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC’s head of fishery standard accessibility.
“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.”
While the programme does not allow fisheries to use the MSC ecolabel until they meet full sustainability standards, it offers a path to certification and participating fisheries can display a back-of-pack statement informing consumers of their involvement in the programme.
The programme builds on a previous pilot phase, which ran from 2020 to 2024, and saw 16 fisheries from countries including South Africa, Mexico and Indonesia.
One success story is the South African Pole & Line Albacore tuna fishery, which, after improving data collection, observer monitoring and bycatch management, achieved MSC certification in August 2024.
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