Lidl launches new food waste initiative and raises target

Lidl has extended a partnership with food redistribution platform Neighbourly to a new initiative enabling both charities and customers to collect surplus food from stores for free.

The discounter already works with Neighbourly to redistribute surplus from all stores to local charities and community causes.

From this summer, it will also participate in Neighbourly’s Surplus Saviours initiative in the Midlands in a trial. Anyone interested in collecting surplus in the scheme must first register on Neighbourly’s website. 

Lidl has also announced a new food waste reduction target. Previously it was aiming to cut food waste by 50% between 2016 and 2030. It has now raised that target to 70%. The supermarket has already surpassed a target of cutting food waste by 40% between 2016 and 2025.

Finally, Lidl is embarking on a new animal feed trial in the Peterborough region, diverting bakery lines that are no longer suitable for human consumption. 

Its new measures coincide with the start of Food Waste Action Week, a consumer-facing Wrap initiative targeting household food waste, which accounts for 60% of total UK food waste.

The new steps also follow talks between Lidl and a social media campaigner, Food_waste_inspector_, who has filmed in-date food which has been incorrectly placed in bins rather than donated at its stores.

“We set ambitious targets that challenge how we operate and inspire innovation when it comes to food waste,” said Lidl GB head of sustainability Matt Juden-Bloomfield.

“We’ve made good strides, but we know we can do more. With that in mind, we have increased our targets to ensure we remain accountable and also introduced some exciting new trials to take things to the next level.

“We remain committed to accelerating our progress in this space and collaborating closely with our industry peers to drive lasting impact for both the environment and the communities we are at the heart of.”

Wrap director of food system transformation Estelle Herszenhorn said: “For the past 10 years, Lidl GB has been an active and engaged signatory of Wrap’s UK Food & Drink Pact. It has been fantastic seeing them offer loose fruits and vegetables and adopting best practice labelling. Both practices help shoppers reduce their household food waste.

“In-store, Lidl GB’s initiative on matching bakery products with demand aligns with Wrap’s priority of preventing food waste before it occurs. We are delighted to see increased paths for redistribution where food is surplus – a move Wrap also encourages.”