Lidl GB is expanding its ‘Good to Give’ initiative to include hygiene products.
The discounter originally launched the scheme in partnership with giving platform Neighbourly last year to help diversify and increase food bank donations. The new move follows research revealing that demand for toiletries is soaring alongside food, with 72% of local charities reporting a need for both of these categories to support people through the cost of living crisis.
Since introducing the Good to Give trustmark seven months ago, Lidl has seen in-store customer food donations for local charities increase by an estimated 25% – the equivalent to over 250,000 additional meals donated between June and December 2022. Lidl donated a total of over six million meals in 2022, including both donations and food surplus.
From 16 March, the retailer will feature the Good to Give signage on price tickets for 10 essential sanitary and personal care items, including tampons, toothpaste and nappies. These can be dropped at existing donation points located by checkouts in all Lidl stores.
Lidl is also providing £50,000 worth of grants for local organisations working to tackle hygiene poverty in their communities within its network coordinated by Neighbourly.
Mark Newbold, Senior CSR Manager at Lidl GB, said: “With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on local communities, we want to go beyond our commitment to making good food accessible to everyone by looking at other support we can provide.
“Hygiene poverty is the daily reality for over 3.2 million adults in this country, and our charity partners working day in day out with those in need have told us that the problem is only growing. We hope that by providing grants and encouraging our customers to once again donate a little differently, we can get more local charities more of these basic yet vital products.”
NAM Implications:
- ‘Hygiene poverty‘ could give Lidl another first in charity donations.
- A pointer for others in meeting a real need after food?
