top of page

Lidl And WWF Ambitious International Partnership



Lidl, one of the largest retailers, and WWF, one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, announced the start of a new five-year international and strategic partnership active in 31 countries.


The long-term cooperation with WWF will focus on working along Lidl’s value chain, thereby helping to address the global ecological challenges of our time, ensuring that more households have access to more sustainable choices and encouraging business models that work in harmony with nature and within planetary boundaries.


The partnership is a new cornerstone in the commitment to sustainability that Lidl has been driving forward for years as part of its international sustainability strategy. The common goal of this partnership is to enable customers to make even more sustainable choices.


“Joining forces“

Christoph Pohl, Chief Purchasing Officer at Lidl International commented:

“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."

"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. That's why we believe in strong partnerships to work together to provide more sustainable choices.”


Kirsten Schuijt, Director General WWF International, adds:

“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."

"As one of the largest retailers, Lidl has enormous international leverage to drive sustainable change in the food and retail industry. WWF is proud to accompany Lidl on this journey on which we will both support and challenge the retailer.”


Acting stronger together in 31 countries

This latest development follows last year’s announcement that Lidl GB had become the first discount supermarket to sign WWF’s Retailers’ Commitment for Nature – an agreement to work with WWF to halve the environmental impact of UK shopping baskets by 2030.


Lidl and WWF have also been working together already across other individual markets, for example in Switzerland and Austria, over the last few years. The new partnership expands the scope of this work globally, to accelerate sustainability at an international level. Lidl has set itself the goal of making sustainable shopping even easier for its customers worldwide in the future and to work together with WWF to provide more sustainable choices and thus actively shape the sustainable transformation. The partnership with WWF will support this goal through focusing on the following key areas:


  • 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


In addition to Lidl’s engagement along its own value chain, the company will support various WWF conservation projects to help protect the environment in regions it sources from.


Above Photo:

Thomas Vellacott, CEO WWF CH, Christoph Pohl, Head of Purchasing Lidl International and Kirsten Schuijt, Director General WWF International (from left) // Photo: WWF

Most Read

British Superbike Rider Gears Up For Charity

British Superbike Rider Gears Up For Charity

Edmund Best, a British National Superstock rider for team SymCirrus Motorsport, has declared his support for The Bridge Homelessness to...

RHS Calls For Compensation Due To Financially Devastating Impact Of A3/M25 Roadworks

RHS Calls For Compensation Due To Financially Devastating Impact Of A3/M25 Roadworks

With 350,000 fewer people visiting RHS Garden Wisley annually due to the National Highways A3/M25 roadworks, resulting in £6 million...

O'Donovan Waste Win Decarbonisation Award At The Institute Of Couriers Awards

O'Donovan Waste Win Decarbonisation Award At The Institute Of Couriers Awards

The recent National Courier Awards took place recently in London and the annual event continues to be a fantastic occasion celebrating...

Categories

The NFU has responded to Defra Secretary of State Steve Barclay’s announcement of further changes to the Environment Land Management scheme (ELMs).


NFU Vice President David Exwood said: “We welcome much of what has been announced including changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2024, including increased payments and a raft of new options such as support for precision farming and uplands and moorlands. The new actions being made available under SFI will provide further clarity which is much needed by farming businesses in order to plan for the future."


“Confirmation of plans to build on the Countryside Stewardship scheme (CS) with a developed and improved offer for 2024 is also welcome including further new and enhanced options for access and wildfire management."


“However, we still have more questions than answers around the deliverability of these new options. It remains hugely frustrating that nearly six years on from the Health and Harmony consultation, which set farming in England on a path towards public goods for public payments, government is still a long way behind on its commitments."


“With a minimum of 50% reduction in direct payments due in 2024, the tapering of payments to 2027 continues to be very concerning. We urgently need business critical detail on how farmers and growers will smoothly transition from existing agreements to the new offer."


“We repeat our calls for Defra to undertake a mid-term review – an urgent assessment is needed of the agricultural transition on food production and farm business viability. Currently, no such impact assessment exists and it is something we have said is an absolute must to ensure these new schemes are set up to succeed."


“It is imperative that SFI has sustainable food production at its core, with enough options that sit around productive farming. For this to happen it is absolutely vital that there’s a better balance between policies that focus on enhancing food production as well as the environment."


“The NFU remains committed to working with Defra to improve ELMs for all farming sectors to ensure we get the uptake needed to deliver Defra’s own statutory environmental targets and to ensure a future agricultural sector which is resilient and thriving, with farmers doing what they do best; contributing to our national food security by producing sustainable, climate-friendly food alongside protecting and maintaining our environment.”

Most Read

British Superbike Rider Gears Up For Charity

British Superbike Rider Gears Up For Charity

Edmund Best, a British National Superstock rider for team SymCirrus Motorsport, has declared his support for The Bridge Homelessness to...

RHS Calls For Compensation Due To Financially Devastating Impact Of A3/M25 Roadworks

RHS Calls For Compensation Due To Financially Devastating Impact Of A3/M25 Roadworks

With 350,000 fewer people visiting RHS Garden Wisley annually due to the National Highways A3/M25 roadworks, resulting in £6 million...

O'Donovan Waste Win Decarbonisation Award At The Institute Of Couriers Awards

O'Donovan Waste Win Decarbonisation Award At The Institute Of Couriers Awards

The recent National Courier Awards took place recently in London and the annual event continues to be a fantastic occasion celebrating...

Categories

Mindfulness & Wellbeing At The Forefront Of Small Space Gardens At RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Mindfulness & Wellbeing At The Forefront Of Small Space Gardens At RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Curating spaces for wellness takes centre stage in the Balcony and Container Gardens category at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show....

Cubs Turned Explorers

Cubs Turned Explorers

Whipsnade Zoo’s trio of Northern African lion cubs have been pictured taking their first exploratory steps outside, under the watchful...

Reconomy Strengthens Its Technology Leadership Team

Reconomy Strengthens Its Technology Leadership Team

Reconomy, the leading international circular economy specialist, has announced that it has strengthened its technology capabilities...

Recent Posts

bottom of page