Lidl Ireland’s native woodland scheme helps to absorb up to 12,500 tonnes of carbon
Retailer celebrates Earth Day with planting of 82,000 native trees
Print14 April 2020
As part of its sustainability strategy, ‘A Better Tomorrow’, Lidl Ireland has committed to a native tree planting partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’ (WEF) initiative will see Lidl plant over 82,000 trees across Ireland in 2020. Planting has been completed at the first and largest of the native woodland sites in Burnellstown, Co. Westmeath where almost 33,000 trees were planted ahead of Earth Day which takes place on Wednesday, 22 April.
Working closely with Sustineo, a carbon and energy consultancy, forestry companies and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Lidl will support a new native woodland in Co. Westmeath. Lidl’s involvement in this initiative will expand its ‘A Better Tomorrow’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy which is already working to reduce carbon emissions through certifying the company’s new stores across the country to an ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard.
The project is intended to absorb approximately 12,500 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and to compliment the landscape as a protected native woodland. Lidl has also undergone a comprehensive carbon footprint mapping to understand environmental impacts, develop solutions and work with supermarket’s value chain in supporting the overall sustainability strategy.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, congratulated Lidl on the initiative.
“This forest will help to recreate the type of ancient woodland that once covered the Irish landscape thousands of years ago and will also make a huge contribution to improving Irish biodiversity,” said Minister Doyle. “We need leaders in climate action like Lidl, businesses that are willing to get behind new innovative schemes like the WEF and I would encourage others to consider joining also”.
J.P. Scally, managing director at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said the company was always looking for ways to expand its CSR strategy.
“As we’re fully committed to ensuring we drive positive change not only for our customers but the environment as well,” Scally said, “we’re pleased to be involved in the Woodland Environmental Fund initiative and to be working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by helping to restore a richer biodiversity in Ireland through our contribution to reforesting our countryside.”
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