Lidl GB’s latest ‘Good Food’ report reveals that, since 2016, the discounter has reduced its food waste by almost half (43%), with it on track to hit its 50% reduction target by 2030.
Providing more meals to charities – including over 6 million in 2022 – has helped Lidl reach this milestone. Last year, the retailer also prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of food waste through the sale of 1.7 million ‘Too Good to Waste’ boxes.
A focus on reducing other forms of waste has also led to 95% of Lidl’s own-label packaging being recyclable, reusable, renewable or refillable. Overall, the discounter has cut the amount of plastic packaging across its own ranges by 29% since 2017 – with it looking to achieve a 40% reduction by 2025. Through its partnership with Prevented Ocean Plastic, it has also stopped the equivalent of 15 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean.
With over 90% of Lidl’s carbon emissions coming from its supply chain and use of its products, the retailer is also working closely with suppliers on carbon reduction projects. The discounter has partnered with The Rivers Trust and is funding three water catchment projects (increasing to nine by 2025) to mitigate risks in the supply chain.
Meanwhile, as of February 2023, 45% of Lidl’s British fruit and veg suppliers were LEAF Marque certified – a gold standard in sustainable farming – meaning they have robust water and nature conservation plans in place. This figure is expected to reach 100% by the end of the year.
As part of its sustainability goals, Lidl has also pledged to halve the environmental impact of its customers’ shopping baskets by 2030 through the WWF’s Retailers’ Commitment for Nature.
“At Lidl, we strive to work in a way that benefits our people, our producers, and the planet,” said Mark Newbold, Senior CSR Manager at Lidl GB.
“This means finding new, more sustainable ways to deliver on quality and value for shoppers. Little changes make a big difference – and we know they matter to our customers. From making more of our packaging recyclable and incorporating circularity into how we operate, to increasing the amount of food we donate to our charity partners – we’re proud to have made such positive strides and we’re doubling down in order to meet the ambitious goals we have set.”
Looking ahead, Lidl is examining how technology and innovation can help it meet its sustainability goals. For example, the discounter was the first to trial smart refills in 2022 and is now assessing its potential for scalability and cross-retailer standardisation.
Lidl is also trialling the Eco-Score environmental rating for products – the first UK retailer to do so – making labelling clearer to help shoppers make sustainable choices.
