Aldi UK’s published carbon page is about its own targets and its supplier engagement; it says nothing about farm solar or on-farm practices. This page explains the Scope 1, 2 and 3 terms behind its targets and what an array does to a farm’s own figures. It makes no claim that Aldi requires, accepts or rewards solar.
What Aldi UK publishes
Aldi UK’s Carbon Reduction page (undated) says Aldi aims for suppliers responsible for 75% of its Scope 3 emissions to set science-based targets aligned with 1.5°C, and refers to a supplier climate engagement strategy. It reports that 100% of the electricity Aldi directly purchases is green, certified through REGO, and says nothing about farmers or on-farm practices.
Scope 1, 2 and 3 on a farm
The vocabulary comes from the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard: Scope 1 is direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, Scope 2 is emissions from purchased electricity the business consumes, and Scope 3 is other indirect emissions, such as those from purchased materials. The Scope 3 Standard lists purchased goods and services as a category, and food a retailer buys falls within it.
What an on-farm array changes
The method matters. The GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance describes a location-based method, using average grid emissions intensity, and a market-based method, reflecting the contracts a business has chosen. On the location-based method with the DESNZ 2026 factor (0.13096 kg CO2e per kWh), avoiding 40,000 kWh of purchases is 5,238 kg, about 5.24 tonnes CO2e. Ask which method the buyer wants.
What to ask your buyer
Ask in writing:
- which methodology and emission factors the template uses;
- whether it wants Scope 1 and 2 separately, and for which years;
- which platform collects the data and who holds the login;
- what evidence it expects, such as meter readings and invoices;
- how it treats electricity generated on the farm.
Do not size an array around a supplier scheme
A retailer’s sustainability page is not an instruction to buy panels. The Aldi page cited does not mention farm solar, so nothing there says it is required, accepted or rewarded. Until your buyer says otherwise in writing, plan around the farm’s own electricity use, using farm solar cost guide, grants and funding and solar panel weight and roof loading.
The same checklist appears for suppliers to Asda, M&S and Tesco; solar panels for agricultural buildings covers the roof and system questions.
| Point on this page | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Suppliers responsible for 75% of Scope 3 to set 1.5°C-aligned targets; supplier engagement strategy | ALDI UK, Carbon Reduction | undated |
| 100% of electricity Aldi directly purchases is green (REGO); nothing on farmers or on-farm practices | ALDI UK, Carbon Reduction | undated |
| GHG Protocol: what the scopes mean, where purchased food sits, and the two Scope 2 methods | GHG Protocol Corporate Standard p.27, Scope 3 Standard, Scope 2 Guidance | undated; 2015 |
| DESNZ factors for UK electricity: 0.13096 kg CO2e/kWh (Scope 2), 0.01299 for T&D losses (Scope 3) | DESNZ conversion factors 2026 | 11 Jun 2026, updated 31 Jul 2026 |
Common questions
Does Aldi UK require farm solar?
Nothing on the Carbon Reduction page says so; it does not mention farmers or on-farm practices. Ask your buyer in writing.
Is an array Scope 1, 2 or 3 for my farm?
Mostly Scope 2: under the GHG Protocol that scope is purchased electricity the business consumes, so self-used array kWh replace purchases and exports do not. Fuel you burn on the farm is Scope 1.
Do exported kWh reduce my Scope 2 figure?
Not on the GHG Protocol definition, which limits Scope 2 to purchased electricity the business consumes. Ask your Aldi UK buyer whether exports should be recorded separately.
Other UK supermarket and processor supplier pages
See our coverage of the major UK retailer and processor supplier schemes: