Grocery chain Lidl and WWF, a conservation organisation, have announced the start of a new five-year international and strategic partnership active in 31 countries.
The key targets of the Lidl and WWF tie-up are to help the supermarket chain ensure more households have access to a greater number of sustainable choices. Collaborating with WWF, is also part of Lidl’s ambition to find business models that work in harmony with nature and within planetary boundaries.
Lidl GB has already signed WWF’s ‘Retailers’ Commitment for Nature’ – with signatories all committing to work with the conservation group to halve the environmental impact of UK shopping baskets by 2030.
Lidl and WWF have also teamed up to work together in Switzerland and Austria.
The new partnership will focus on several specific areas across Lidl’s own value chain. They are, as follows:
- Conservation and promotion of biodiversity
- Responsible management of water resources
- Climate protection through science-based climate targets
- Building and expanding traceable, deforestation-free and conversion-free supply chains
- Responsible sourcing of critical raw materials such as palm oil, soy, cocoa, tea, coffee, wood, and paper products
- Responsible sourcing of fish and seafood and safeguarding of critical fishing grounds and stocks
- Engaging in advocacy for more conscious, sustainable diets and consumption
- Reduction of food waste.
Lidl has also said it will support WWF conservation projects to help protect the environment in regions it sources from.
Christoph Pohl, chief purchasing officer at Lidl International, remarked: “In our role as one of the largest food retailers, we are aware of our responsibility and our influence.
“We take responsibility with the aim of doing business within planetary boundaries. For Lidl, sustainable management is not only a question of attitude, but also the basis for the future viability of our business model.”
He added: “With the support and expertise of WWF, we will now take our commitment to sustainability to the next level. We can only overcome major global challenges such as climate change and nature loss by working together.”
Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International, commented: “The way we produce and consume food and energy is one of the leading drivers of nature loss and climate change.
“In order to halt and reverse what is the biggest crisis facing humanity today, we need bold and urgent actions towards changing our food and energy systems, and the food and retail sector has a big role to play in driving this change.”
[image credit: Green Retail World]
