Our partnership with WWF

Climate change

Biodiversity

Water

We are working to identify freshwater hotspots and risks, then implement a responsible water strategy

Using the WWF Water Risk Filter, we are reviewing our assessments and targets relating to freshwater risks to create a more comprehensive strategy for responsible water use.  In collaboration with WWF, we will identify and address water risks throughout our value chain. This work will build on our existing commitments to WRAP’s Water Roadmap and the WWF Basket, with the main aim that 50% of fresh food is sourced from regions with sustainable water management by 2030.

As a part of this we are currently helping to fund three collective action projects in major sourcing regions to address issues such as water pollution and availability. Through LEAF Marque certification 100% of our British fruit and veg suppliers will also be required to have water management plans in place that ensure efficient and responsible water use.

Further details on our commitment to water: https://corporate.lidl.co.uk/sustainability/save-water2

Raw materials

Raw materials are the basis of our products. We see it as our responsibility to purchase raw materials in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Our Lidl CSR strategy drives our engagement with raw materials and highlights our long-standing commitment to sourcing deforestation-free products. We take responsibility and place sustainability at the centre of our actions. This includes supporting and endorsing the goals of the EU regulation for deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains. [In 2018, we demonstrated this commitment by signing the WWF-initiated "Cerrado Manifesto," which opposes illegal land grabbing in Brazilian soy cultivation.]

In our partnership with WWF, we want to ensure responsible international sourcing of critical raw materials and the establishment and expansion of traceable, deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains. Unless otherwise stated, the following targets apply to our own-brand products (standard and promotional range) in Great Britain and all other Lidl countries. Considering regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) approach and future UK legislation, we have set ourselves the following targets.

Deforestation- and conversion-free raw material procurement

We are committed to sourcing high-risk raw materials—such as soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, wood, cellulose, and paper—from deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains. To ensure this, we continuously refine our raw material strategy to prevent deforestation and land conversion for our own-brand products. This approach aligns with the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFI) and the EUDR.

Compliance with deforestation- and conversion-free cut-off dates*

We ensure that both we and our suppliers adhere to the cut-off dates for deforestation- and conversion-free set by the AFI and the EUDR. This applies to the high-risk raw materials soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, wood, cellulose, and paper.

* Each standard defines a cut-off date, marking the point after which deforestation for growing raw materials is prohibited at a specific location. These dates vary between standards.

Traceability and supplier engagement

We require all current and new suppliers to adopt a policy that ensures their operations are free from deforestation, land conversion and exploitation by the 2026 financial year. As part of the WWF Basket, the Lidl GB team is committed to implementing the same policies, ensuring their operations are deforestation and conversion free by the end of 2025. This applies to the high-risk raw materials soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef and timber & wood.

Responsible soy supply chains

As part of the partnership, we are committed to creating fully traceable soy supply chains that are free from deforestation, conversion and exploitation. To achieve this, we will thoroughly assess the origin of soy used directly in our supply chain (alternative proteins and soy products) as well as in the feed of selected animal products such as chicken, eggs and pork. This analysis will help us identify areas in need of action.

The UK Soy Manifesto is a collaborative industry commitment to achieving physically-traceable, deforestation- and conversion-free soy supply chains in the UK. In 2021, Lidl GB became a founding signatory of the Manifesto and we are committed to working with the wider industry to achieve this target by the end of 2025.

In addition, we will work with the Collaboration for Forests and Agriculture (CFA) to evaluate and address issues of deforestation, land conversion and exploitation within our own soy supply chains. Our goal is to ensure that, in the long term, our soy supply chains are completely traceable and free from deforestation, conversion and exploitation.

Responsible palm (kernel) oil

Starting from the 2025 financial year, we are committed to sourcing only traceable palm and palm kernel oil that is free from deforestation, land conversion, and exploitation. 100% of our palm and palm kernel oil used in both food and non-food products must meet the RSPO Segregated or EU Organic standards. In addition, 100% of the derivatives should at least comply with the RSPO Mass Balance Standard. 

Responsible cellulose and paper

Our goal is to source traceable, deforestation-, conversion--free paper and cellulose products by the end of August 2025.

To achieve this, we will analyse the country of origin of paper and cellulose products. This analysis will help us develop a comprehensive long-term strategy to ensure that all paper and cellulose products are fully traceable and responsibly sourced.

This includes cellulose and paper in our own-brand products, their labels and packaging in Great Britain and all other Lidl countries. The FSC, FSC mix, and in exceptional cases, PEFC standards and recycled paper are accepted.

Responsible sourcing of cocoa

Our goal is to sell fully traceable and sustainable cocoa products.

A key component of our efforts involves analysing the origins of our cocoa. This analysis will guide the development of a comprehensive sustainable cocoa sourcing strategy, which we are developing with WWF. This strategy involves: investing in full traceability for cocoa beans and butter; participating in conservation projects in key or high-risk cultivation areas; and engaging with relevant stakeholders through cocoa initiatives committed to sustainable production.

Certified coffee: coffee products and roasted coffee

We are committed to achieving 100% sustainably-certified coffee products, including coffee capsules, instant coffee, and cappuccino. Our goal is to ensure that starting from the 2028 financial year, all coffee products sold will carry a recognized sustainability label. The minimum accepted certifications are Organic (EU), Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade.

In addition, we are committed to continuously increasing the proportion of certified roasted coffee to 100%.

Certified tea supply chains

Another goal we have set ourselves as part of our partnership with WWF is to ensure fully certified tea products. This includes all black teas, green teas, and rooibos teas from our products. Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certifications are accepted.

More information about our Lidl raw materials strategy:

• Deforestation
• Soy
• Palm oil
• Wood and timber
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Tea

Healthy and Sustainable Diets

Based on the scientific principles of the "Planetary Health Diet", which recommends a plant forward diet, we have continued to expand our product range to include more vegan and vegetarian products.

Through this partnership, we are deepening our commitment to making sustainable and healthy diets more accessible by adopting a strategy that prioritises plant-based foods, including fruits and vegetables, wholegrains and plant-based protein sources such as beans and pulses, into our product ranges.

As part of this, we measure, monitor and transparently report the ratio of animal to plant-based protein sources that we sell. Based on this data, we can track the progress we make to align with healthy, sustainable diet targets. The scope of the report covers the entire product range in Great Britain and all Lidl countries worldwide: across own brands and branded products, permanent and promotional ranges.

Fish and seafood

When it comes to responsible fish and seafood, we are pursuing an ambitious goal for greater sustainability. We are focusing on increased transparency and traceability as well as the use of well-known third-party certification labels such as MSC, ASC, BAP4-Star and GlobalG.A.P.

Our targets for fish and seafood are For our own-brand and branded products.

Transparent and traceable fish and seafood

We are committed to the traceability and transparency of our entire fish and seafood range. By the end of the 2024 financial year, we want to ensure that all products are labelled accordingly and indicate, i.e., the country of production, the species, and the fishing or aquaculture method. We are also working towards demonstrating complete fish and seafood supply chain traceability. In the case of aquaculture, this includes the traceability of the species farmed and the feed used.

For wild catches, we aim to ensure traceability by examining both the fishing vessel and the specific catch event.

Responsible fish and seafood range

Our goal is to ensure that 100% of our entire range of fish and seafood comes from sources that are classified as recommended or acceptable according to WWF criteria.

WWF classifies the following sources as recommended or acceptable:

• WWF score 1-3
• Certifications MSC, ASC, Bio, BAP4-Star, GlobalG.A.P
• Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs) supported by WWF

We are also committed to increasing the proportion of fish and seafood sourced from WWF-recommended sources. These sources are defined as those with a WWF score of 1-2.

We will measure this commitment by tracking the percentage of our total fish and seafood volume that comes from these recommended sources.

Certified fish and seafood supply chains

We aim to increase the proportion of our fish and seafood range that meets WWF-recommended certifications. The recommended certifications include MSC, ASC, Bio, BAP 2-Star, and GlobalG.A.P.We will review the total volume of our fish and seafood range in line with the above certifications on an annual basis.

Circular economy and reduction of food waste

As we work towards long-term resource conservation, through our partnership with WWF we are focusing on enhancing the recyclability of materials and minimising food waste.

Food waste in our own operations

We aim to further reduce food waste in our stores and distribution centres. To achieve this, we are developing a globally applicable strategy with clear targets. These targets will follow on from our ambitious Lidl GB target to reduce food waste by 40% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030. Our focus is on minimising waste and optimising the redistribution of unsold food, including donating it where possible. Additionally, we are committed to regularly reporting on food waste both nationally and internationally. This commitment applies to our stores in Great Britain and across all Lidl locations.

Learn more here: https://corporate.lidl.co.uk/sustainability/food-waste

Food waste in the value chain

Food production often creates by-products that lead to food waste. Many of these by-products can be further processed to significantly reduce overall waste. We are committed to identifying and addressing food waste in our own production processes, particularly for our own-brand products. Our focus is on identifying and improving production processes that are most prone to food losses from by-products.

Recyclability of packaging and non-food products

We aim to enhance circular practices across our packaging and non-food products. We will develop and implement a circular strategy with WWF by 2025. This will build on the ambitious plastics and packaging targets in Lidl GB: reducing own label plastic packaging by 40%, reducing own label packaging by 25% and making 100% of own label and branded packaging recyclable, reusable, refillable or renewable.  "We will develop additional targets for own-brand products and non-food own-brand products.

Learn more about our existing work here: https://corporate.lidl.co.uk/sustainability/plastics