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Lidl Ireland- Steps to Sustainable Business- Retail
Lidl Ireland
Lidl Ireland is one of the largest nationwide grocery retailers in Ireland providing high quality products at market leading value through efficiency, local sourcing and a lean business model. Since entering the Irish market in 2000 we have established a network of more than 6,000 employees, 216 stores and 4 regional distribution centres across the island of Ireland. We believe our sustainability strategy ‘A Better Tomorrow’ is our responsibility, through innovation, investment, collaboration and active leadership, to build a successful and sustainable future not just for our business but for the communities we serve, live and source from. Corporate Social Responsibility in Lidl means taking responsibility for our impact on both the environment and society. The sustainability strategy focuses on 6 key areas and 17 topic areas such as the circular economy and biodiversity, how we go about sourcing our range of products and supporting local communities, as well as focusing on Lidl employees. Led by our CSR department and embedded by our colleagues, partners, suppliers and communities, our strategy focuses on areas that are the most material to our business, important to our stakeholders and where we can have the greatest impact. Together, we prioritise sustainability across all our actions, projects and initiatives through measuring and monitoring.
We have addressed these issues in the following ways:
Climate Strategy Lidl are aware of their impact on the climate and have developed a strategy to address our footprint. Each year, Lidl completes an annual carbon foot printing exercise, and have aligned to the Science Based Target Initiative, by committing to a 46% reduction on its scope 1&2 (or operational) emissions by 2030. Energy Efficiency Throughout Lidl’s stores nationwide, energy usage is a key focus. As a result, all of our stores are powered by 100 per cent green electricity and are audited to ISO:50001 standards, meaning that Lidl is capable of managing its energy efficiency. Electric charge points and the installation of solar PV are standard for any new stores and regional distribution centres. The Lidl Newbridge regional distribution centre was the first distribution centre to be awarded with BREEAM, a world leading sustainability assessment for buildings, excellence certification.
Pollinator Stores Over 30 stores, 10 in the Munster region, now feature a pollinator patch where the store grounds feature a wildflower garden creating a haven for pollinators like bees, butterflies and hoverflies, which are essential to produce the fresh fruit and vegetables that Lidl is renowned for.
Circular Economy Lidl support the transition to a circular economy having achieved zero waste to landfill in 2019. Lidl was the first retailer to introduce instore recycling points to support customers to reduce the amount of packaging that they take home, alongside offering customers 100% recycled shopping bags. Lidl are very aware of the need to reduce the use of plastics in our product packaging and continue to increase the recyclability of the material. Lidl were first-to-market with an industry leading approach to a Deposit Return Scheme last year when they launched the first machine in Glenageary, Co Dublin and have since expanded the trial to Claremorris, Co Mayo in recent months collecting about half a million bottles to date.
Top tips that you can consider in your business:
• Engage with stakeholders both internal and external to establish key priority areas for your business. This is known as a materiality analysis. • Develop key focus areas based on the key findings from stakeholder engagements i.e. packaging, energy, biodiversity, charity • Use the R’S to tackle packaging Research, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle for your business and also customers • Develop an energy management plan that includes energy efficient equipment and lighting • Engage employees by asking them for ideas and involving them in projects
Elaine O’Connor
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Email csr@lidl.ie for any questions
