Kaufland Romania continues planting urban mini-forests in the outdoor parking areas of its stores, an initiative started in 2023, unique in Romanian retail. The project is being carried out together with the EcoAssist Association, through the “We Plant Good Deeds in Romania” program, and addresses the lack of green spaces and low air quality – two factors that directly affect the quality of life in the urban environment. Between April and May 2025, four new mini-forests were established in Moinești, Brăila, Năsăud and Bragadiru.
Approximately 3,200 seedlings of native species – pedunculate oak, hornbeam, ash, blackthorn or mountain ash – were planted with the help of over 30 volunteers – Kaufland employees who chose to be actively involved in the transformation of the cities in which they live. At the same time, the mini-forests planted in 2024 in Vișeu de Sus and Zalău were completed with over 1,000 seedlings. The existing vegetation is developing well, and the new additions ensure a balanced and sustainable growth of green spaces. The mini-forests in Popa Nan and Emil Racoviță – Bucharest, as well as the one in Pitești, the first planted within the initiative, continue to develop harmoniously. The capture rate is high, and the general condition of the trees confirms the efficiency of the model.
“At Kaufland, we care about the environment and people. We believe that cities can and must become more breathable. It should mean more than concrete and asphalt. The urban mini-forests in the store parking lots show that urban development can go hand in hand with nature – if we are open to looking at things differently and making courageous choices. We want this project to inspire and become a standard in Romanian cities”, said Katharina Scheidereiter, CSR Manager Kaufland Romania.
The mini-forests are planted using the Japanese Miyawaki method – a technique that involves dense plantings, with local species, which create stable and resilient ecosystems. Vegetation grows quickly, does not require intensive maintenance, helps lower temperatures in built-up areas and provides a natural habitat for birds, insects and small mammals. The benefits are multiple and visible: cleaner air, shade, peace, biodiversity. The project also had a significant impact on the organizational culture, through the active involvement of employees in volunteering actions.
From one planting to another, more and more Kaufland employees have chosen to join this effort, becoming part of an initiative that combines social responsibility with environmental care. To date, the Kaufland network includes 11 mini-forests – ten are arranged in store parking lots in different regions of the country, and one in the yard of a school in Ocnele Mari, Vâlcea County.
