Lidl Sets Ambitious New Sustainability Targets

Lidl adjustments, big impact. There's a summary of this breaking news for those with a four-word attention span.
Kicking off October in style, discount supermarket giant Lidl has announced significant updates to its climate strategy as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.
The Germany-based company has outlined new targets for cutting its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, as well as its more complex and extensive Scope 3 emissions which account for the majority of its total carbon footprint.
These changes are part of Lidl's broader efforts to align with international climate standards and achieve net zero by 2050, a commitment the company had yet to make until this announcement.
Lidl's sustainability targets
So, what are the specifics of Lidl's new climate targets? The aim is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 70% by 2030, using a 2019 baseline.
- Scope 1 - direct emissions from company-owned sources, such as vehicles and facilities.
- Scope 2 - indirect emissions from the consumption of purchased energy, such as electricity.
- Scope 3 - indirect emissions that occur from activities a company is indirectly responsible for, but not from sources it owns or controls.
Since 2019, Lidl has made notable progress by achieving a 52% reduction in across Scope 1 and 2. This puts the company on a solid trajectory towards its new 2030 goal. The reduction has been achieved through initiatives such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency across stores and warehouses and reducing the carbon intensity of its fleet of vehicles.
In 2022, Lidl committed to making 100% of the vehicles in its Carquefou logistics hub run on green hydrogen. In 2024, the German company also introduced EV charging credits into its reward card scheme and it also launched the first green hydrogen-powered HGV in European freight.
Tackling Scope 3 emissions
In addition to its efforts on direct emissions, Lidl is also addressing Scope 3 emissions, which represent over 90% of the company’s total emissions. Scope 3 covers indirect emissions that occur along the supply chain, including the production and transportation of goods, waste generated in operations and the emissions associated with products after they leave Lidl's stores.
Lidl has set a target to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by 35% by 2034, using a 2022 baseline. Given the complexity of tackling emissions that come from a wide array of external factors and stakeholders, this target is both ambitious and necessary for meeting global climate goals.
A major focus within the Scope 3 emissions category is the reduction of emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use (FLAG). Lidl has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this sector by 42.4% by 2034. FLAG emissions are particularly significant in the food industry due to the environmental impact of farming practices, deforestation, and land management, making this an essential area for Lidl to address.
Supplier collaboration
Lidl’s progress in meeting its sustainability targets relies heavily on collaboration with its suppliers. To achieve its new Scope 3 goals, Lidl has committed to working closely with strategic suppliers, particularly those responsible for 75% of product-related emissions, to ensure they align with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) by 2026.
SBTi provides companies with a clear framework to ensure their climate actions are in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Lidl has already made some progress towards this goal and, by ensuring that suppliers set their own science-based targets, the company aims to create a ripple effect throughout its supply chain.
The company's future sustainability
Ryan McDonnell, CEO of Lidl GB, expresses the company’s strong commitment to addressing climate change. He emphasises that collaboration with both customers and suppliers would be crucial in reaching these targets:
“Tackling climate change is a huge priority for us at Lidl; our commitment to achieving net-zero through our new quantified targets demonstrates the scale of our ambition.”
He added that Lidl’s mission is not just to improve the sustainability of its own operations but also to offer the most sustainable products at affordable prices for shoppers.
“We know that collaboration will be central to our aims – from engaging customers on our progress to working closely with suppliers to develop products more sustainably. We’re excited for the journey ahead and are absolutely clear on our mission to deliver the most sustainable product range at the best possible price for shoppers."
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