Retail supports SAVE FOOD

To become the most sustainable discount supermarket in Germany is the stated aim of this subsidiary of the Schwarz Group, Europe’s biggest retail combine. The food retailer from Baden-Württemberg has already taken many steps to turn this project into reality. Lately, LIDL Deutschland joined the Save Food Initiative, the joint project of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Messe Düsseldorf. Together the members want to achieve a global reduction of food waste and losses with the help of various measures. As a first step, they include raising public awareness for this set of issues. Furthermore, the networking among members is to be promoted thereby giving rise to fundamental strategies for concrete engagement and investment possibilities.  

So far, the Initiative has counted 1,067 registered supporters including groups of companies, firms and industry associations as well as research institutes and NGOs across the entire food value chain. LIDL Deutschland’s support means the first retail protagonist is now part of this alliance, too. By joining the Initiative the company wishes to share its insights with other members, generate synergies, develop partnerships and promote innovative projects.

This food retailer has already given proof of its sustainability for a number of years now. Beverage cartons for juices are offered predominantly with the FSC logo, i.e. made of wood fibre from forests managed in an exemplary and responsible manner. With all types of packaging the company generally focuses on re-usability and reclamation. Packaging materials are to be reintroduced into the production cycle rather than being left unused. By 2025 LIDL intends to make all private label plastic packaging recyclable thereby getting closer to the EU target of 100% recycling of plastic packaging in the European Union by 2030. Only recently the foil thickness of butter and wholegrain toast packaging was optimised thereby saving 25% of plastics; this adds up to some 50 tons of plastics annually.

However, LIDL not only pays attention to sustainability when it comes to packaging – goods carriers and displays are also designed to comply with the demands made on resource-saving processes. This is why LIDL outlets are increasingly using “Heilbronner Halbpaletten”(HHP) semi-pallets made of rugged HDPE plastics for storage and transport. Weighing in as little as 6.5 kilograms they are extremely lightweight and durable. Furthermore, this material has no more sharp edges or splinters prone to causing injuries.