Lidl Romania analysed the 2022 financial year (March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023) and draws the line by presenting a new sustainability report, the sixth for the company. The new report includes a centralization of the measures that the retailer takes to continue the sustainable development of the business and presents the sustainable goals for a better future. Results include:

– supporting local production, through collaboration with 458 local suppliers

– elimination of over 42 tons of plastic from the packaging of own-brand products

– streamlining transport, by reducing the average transport distance from warehouse to store, from 119 to 108 km, but also by expanding the freight transport fleet, supported by its suppliers with 3 electric trucks

– investments in the expansion of electric charging stations at national level, at the end of the reporting period the retailer has 300 charging points

– equipping 20 stores with functional photovoltaic panels, on a total area of 11,900 m2, generating a 78% increase in self-generated energy compared to the previous year.

Lidl Romania continues the presentation of the measures taken to contribute to a better future, in the sixth sustainability report, relating to the period March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023. The document includes concrete measures and actions of the company, with developments and measurable results and impact real in society, economy, or environment, but also development objectives that the company has in mind.

This year, the report was structured around three areas of responsibility, which also define the retailer’s new sustainability strategy: Good for people, Good for the planet and Good for you. Each area covers different areas of action that have been identified as locally relevant, such as protecting biodiversity, protecting the environment, conserving resources or responsible products.

The main results of Lidl Romania recorded in the 2022 financial year (March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023) and presented in the sixth sustainability report are:

I. Good for people

Diversity in the Lidl team:

• 52.8% of management positions were held by women.

• At the end of the financial year 2022, the retailer had 11,795 employees, of whom 68% are women.

Fair remuneration and the facilitation of training for Lidl employees:

• All the team has access to the same benefits, such as annual bonus, various bonuses for Easter, Christmas, health and life insurance, day off from the company on the occasion of birthday, etc.

• On average, 48.35 hours of training and continuing education per employee, throughout a year;

II. Good for the planet

Circular economy:

• 42 tons of plastic eliminated from the composition of own brand packaging. Among the products that significantly contributed to this reduction are the locally developed products from the Cămara Noastra range (carp roe salad with onion – 100 g, sliced smoked tenderloin – 100 g, sliced Banat salami – 100 g, Sibiu salami – 150 g and sliced salami – 80 g).

• From the total of over 101,600 tons of recyclable waste collected (paper, plastic, batteries, wood, textiles, PET, organic waste), 64% of the materials were recycled or reused;

• 6,500 tons of food products (vegetables, fruit and bakery) were sorted and directed to a biogas station. The project was implemented in the regional headquarters in Chiajna, Nedelea and Fundeni, and the initiative will be extended to the centers of Lugoj and Iernut.

• Through the CHEP and LPR reusable pallet sharing service, Lidl reduced the degree of pollution by 1,225.86 tons of CO₂ equivalent;

Sustainable buildings

• 20 stores equipped with functional photovoltaic panels, on a total area of 11,900 m2, generating a 78% increase in self-generated energy compared to the previous year;

• All stores, logistics centers and administrative offices are certified according to the ISO 50001 energy management system;

• 313 stores and 5 logistics centers were EDGE certified, with 15% more units compared to the previous year;

• 300 charging points for customers’ electric cars, which means equipping more than 35% of stores with at least one charging point;

Transportation and supply chain

• Reduction of the average transport distance on the warehouse – store route, from 118 to 109 km;

• 3 electric trucks introduced in the fleet of Lidl partners for freight transport;

• 2 alternative energy supply stations, at the regional headquarters in the Fundeni commune: one electric and one CNG, whose entry into operation took place in the financial year 2023;

Reducing pollutant emissions from the supply chain

• All logistics centers and 78.9% of stores in the Lidl network use natural refrigerants to cool products, an objective exceeded by more than 40% compared to the initial target of 90% for logistics centers and 40% for commercial units;

• In line with the Paris Climate Agreement, Lidl Romania has set its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by up to 80% by 2030. One step in this direction is to increase the use of energy from renewable sources;

Combating food waste

• 578 tons of food donated to the Food Bank in 2022;

• 215 tons of non-food products & 584 tons of animal feed donated to partner NGOs;

• The company’s objective in this activity segment is to reduce food waste by 15% by 2030, compared to 2018.

III. Good for you – Customers

Supporting local producers and increasing the presence of Romanian products on the shelf

• 3,132 Romanian items on the shelf;

• 458 local suppliers for the entire range of products;

• 94,690 tons of Romanian fruits and vegetables purchased from local suppliers throughout the year, which represents 64% of the total amount;

• For the year 2023, the retailer, together with the partner suppliers, proposed a 33% increase in the area cultivated with fruits and vegetables;

• All fruit and vegetable suppliers are GlobalG.A.P. certified;

• Development of a new method for evaluating and improving local agricultural practices, which includes, among others, water conservation, in partnership with USAMVB;

Certified products

• 346 Bio certified (organic) items, 468 Rainforest Alliance certified products and 447 FSC certified items;

• All green, black and rooibos tea raw materials are Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade or BIO certified;

The data included in this report reflect the activity of the Lidl Romania company, composed of the following entities: Lidl Discount SRL, Lidl Imobiliare Management SCS and Lidl Romania SRL.