Germany-based retail giant Lidl has teamed up with conservation organisation WWF to bolster biodiversity protection in its supply chain across 31 countries. This five-year initiative aims to combat upstream biodiversity loss, tackle deforestation, and restore depleted fishing grounds. Lidl’s suppliers will also be urged to adopt robust science-based targets.
Close-up of soybeans, soybean plantation in the background. AI generated picture.
Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International, emphasised the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss. ‘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’, she stated.
As one of the world's largest retailers, Lidl has significant leverage to promote sustainable practices in the food and retail industry. WWF will assist Lidl in promoting biodiversity, reducing food waste, improving water management, and sustainably sourcing materials like palm oil, soy, cocoa, tea, coffee, wood, and paper products.
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This partnership follows Lidl’s commitment to the WWF’s Retailers’ Commitment for Nature, aiming to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket by 2030. This pledge, developed in partnership with UK-based retailer Tesco, includes other major signatories like Co-op, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Aldi.
Christoph Pohl, Lidl's chief purchasing officer, acknowledged the company's responsibility and influence. ‘With the support and expertise of WWF, we will now take our commitment to sustainability to the next level’, he said.
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Lidl has faced criticism from Foodwatch for lacking a coherent pesticide reduction strategy and has been linked to deforestation issues through investigations by Greenpeace and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. According to WWF, food production is responsible for 60% of nature loss worldwide and over a third of total greenhouse gas emissions.
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