Lidl launches in-store ‘Waste Not Want Not’ initiative
In an effort to significantly reduce the amount of food waste generated every year, Lidl has launched a new in-store initiative headed Waste Not Want Not. Under the new initiative, the price of food that reaches its "best before" date will be slashed by up to 90%.
Print3 December 2019
An ambitious new food waste initiative launched by Lidl will see a range of chilled food products reduced by up to 90% on the day they reach their best before date. The initiative was launched with minister for communications, climate action and the environment, Richard Bruton.
The Waste Not Want Not programme has begun rolling out to all 200 Lidl stores across the island of Ireland, creating a significant price reduction on a range of chilled food products that can no longer be sold, but are still perfectly fresh and fine to eat.
Fresh meat, poultry, fish, and chilled products such as prepared salads, cooked meats, milk and yoghurts, will all be included, with the reduction varying per product type:
- Fresh meat, poultry, and fish products priced between €1.29 and €3.49 will reduce to €0.90. Those priced between €3.50 and €8.99 will reduce to €2 on their best before date.
- Fresh chilled products, such as prepared salads, cheeses and cold cooked meats priced between €0.29 and €1.49 will reduce to €0.20. Those priced between €1.50 and €8.99 will reduce to €0.90.
Reduced products through ‘Waste Not’ will be clearly displayed and available to customers in a newly branded area, located in the chilled food section of all 200 stores across the island of Ireland. The range will be refreshed on a daily basis, while the surplus will continue to be donated to charity partner FoodCloud. Since 2017, 1.6 million meals have been donated by Lidl to charities right across the island of Ireland, through FoodCloud.
Speaking at the launch of ‘Waste Not’, minister for communications, climate action and the environment Richard Bruton said that enterprise has a crucial role to play in eliminating excess food waste, whereby one tonne of food waste results in six tonnes of carbon.
“Initiatives like this will be welcomed by consumers looking towards retailers to employ more sustainable practices,” he said. “Working individually and collaboratively, the entire retail industry has a powerful role to play in tackling this issue and it is welcome to see Lidl taking this positive step.”
Deirdre Ryan, Lidl’s head of corporate social responsibility, added that consumers are more aware than ever of the environmental implications of their purchases. “They consider sustainability and waste before they make a purchasing decision,” she said. “As one of the country’s largest food retailers, we’re constantly looking for ways to help consumers make sustainable purchases, without compromising on quality and value.”
The Waste Not Want Not programme is one of several steps that Lidl is taking as part of its sustainability strategy. In 2018, it was awarded the coveted ‘Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility’ at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards, retained the award for Excellence in Environment and won the award for Excellence in Community. Also, in 2018, the German-owned company picked up the ‘Green Retailer of the Year’ and ‘Excellence in Waste Management’ awards at the Green Awards 2018 as well as the ‘Business Recycling Champion’ at the 2017 Pakman Awards.
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