Lidl, WWF Partner on Sustainability
Lidl and conservation organization the World Wildlife Fund recently debuted an international strategic partnership across 31 countries to identify opportunities to accelerate sustainability, said Lidl.
The partnership will focus on the following key areas of Lidl operations:
• Biodiversity conservation and promotion
• 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 materials such as palm oil, soy, cocoa, tea, coffee, wood, and paper products
• Responsible sourcing of farmed and wild-caught seafood including safeguarding critical fishing grounds and stocks
• Engaging in advocacy for more conscientious, sustainable diets and consumption
• Food waste reduction
“At Lidl we are giving our customers affordable access to healthy fresh foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and other vegetarian, vegan, and organic options,” said Joel Rampoldt, CEO of Lidl US, in a statement. “We’re excited to be part of this larger partnership with WWF and we are confident that together, we’ll find innovative ways to deliver on our goal of creating a better tomorrow.”
In addition to Lidl’s engagement along its own operations and value chain, the retailer will support various WWF conservation projects to help protect the environment in the regions from which it sources.
“The way we produce and consume food and energy is one of the leading drivers of nature loss and climate change,” said Kirsten Schuijt, director general at WWF International, in a statement. “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.”