Lidl supports reducing food waste – Better for the environment, better for your budget

A great deal of products nearing the expiry date can be found in separate sections or with clearly marked labels at a 30% discount. Additionally, customers can buy products from the frozen foods section or fresh meat and fish on the very date of expiration with up to 80% discount. By buying and using these foods in meal preparation on the same day, we make food consumption more sustainable. For some time now, Lidl has been offering some types of a day old bread, at a 30% discount, which further promotes throwing less food away.

As the company states, reducing food waste is beneficial to the climate, soil usage and resource efficiency, in short, preserving the environment.

– By introducing this mechanism, we are encouraging our customers to contribute to the common goal of reducing food waste, hence doing better for the environment and their budget. I have to point out that these are proven high-quality groceries, they just need to be used before the expiration date, says Jasmina Srndic, Senior Consultant Corporate Communications at Lidl Serbia.

The United Nations Environment Programme`s estimates indicate that annually, Serbia throws away around 720,000 tonnes of food, which often ends up in landfills. Throwing food away makes using resources such as water and energy during stock-farming, food production and transport seem irresponsible. Other negative impacts on the environment are caused by methane, landfill gas that is released during decomposition of these foods in landfills and one of the greenhouse gasses with harmful effects on the environment.

New Lidl mechanism, aiming at reducing food waste in Serbia, has already produced positive results and shows that Serbian customers are willing to support the campaign. During the test phase in five Lidl stores in March, on average, over 70% less of frozen food, meat and fish items have been thrown to waste compared to the same month of the previous year.

Apart from the new mechanism, Lidl has take other steps with the goal of reducing food waste, namely, optimizing the procurement process and the optimal order quantity for each product. If, despite these measures, there is still a surplus of expired food, it will not end up in landfills. Instead, Lidl will, for the most part, deliver it to be processed and converted into biogas. In the previous year, over 95% of recalled products has been treated in this manner, and a small percentage has gone into upcycled pet food.

About Lidl

The Lidl brand, a part of the Schwarz Gruppe, is one of the leading chains of grocery stores in Germany and Europe. It is present in 32 countries and operates around 12,000 stores and more than 200 goods distribution and logistics centers in 31 countries.

Lidl opened its first stores in Serbia in October 2018 and currently operates 67 stores in 38 cities across the country. We have long-term plans with the aim to offer our customers a unique shopping experience with the best price-quality ratio, which is why we are recognized around the world. The Top Employers Institute Certification Programme awarded Lidl with the “Top Employer Serbia” and “Top Employer Europe” certificates for the third year in a row.