LIDL GB JOINS UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES

• Lidl GB is the first UK discounter to join the United Nations Global Compact
• Under the initiative, Lidl GB will align its operations and strategies with the compact’s ten universally accepted principles
• Lidl GB colleagues will also gain access to the UNGC Academy

Lidl GB has today announced its membership in the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative - a voluntary initiative for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices.

As a further demonstration of Lidl GB’s commitment to sustainability, the supermarket will now formally align its reporting governance, operations and strategies with the compact’s ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, helping to drive forward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Lidl GB colleagues will also gain access to the UN Global Compact Academy, offering free learning modules on a range of topics to drive engagement and awareness across the business.

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. It includes more than 20,000 companies based in over 160 countries, and more than 60 Global Compact Networks.

As the first UK discounter to join the UN Global Compact, Lidl GB is demonstrating its commitment to taking responsible business action to create a more sustainable future.

Matt Juden, Head of Sustainability at Lidl GB said: "At Lidl GB, we believe that access to health and sustainability should be a right, not a luxury. By joining the UN Global Compact, we are committing to democratising sustainable practices across our business. We aren't just here to broadcast our progress, we are here to collectively solve some of the biggest issues facing society. This membership allows us to work alongside global peers to engineer waste out of the supply chain and secure a resilient future.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

About Lidl GB

Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has experienced continuous growth and today has over 35,000 employees, 1,000 stores and 13 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales.

As part of the Schwarz retail group, Lidl is one of Europe’s leading organisations in the food retail industry. The supermarket, which has more than 382,400 employees globally, currently operates around 12,600 stores and more than 230 logistics centres and warehouses in 31 countries.

The supermarket takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices throughout Great Britain, from Kirkwall to the Isle of Wight.

Lidl GB is a key contributor to the British economy, generating £14.5bn in Gross Value Added in FY24, supporting over 281,000 jobs, and contributing more than £1bn in tax to public services. Driven by a core commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, the retailer sources two-thirds of its products from British suppliers, creating a powerful multiplier effect where every £1 of direct value generates an additional £9 across the wider domestic value chain.

The Schwarz Group, which operates worldwide as a retail group, generated a revenue of €167.3 billion in the financial year 2024.

For more information about Lidl GB visit corporate.lidl.co.uk