How much food do we throw away – and why? With the annual action day “Hranozavest” (“Food Awareness”), Lidl Slovenia draws attention to how quickly food is lost in everyday life and, together with partners, provides information on how a more conscious approach can succeed. Among others, the programme ‘Eco School’ (Ekošola), the associations Ecologists Without Borders (EBM) and Youth Friends of Slovenia (ZMPS), as well as the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture are involved. The goal is to strengthen the appreciation for food and thus contribute to reducing food waste and using resources more carefully.

In addition to the action day, Lidl Slovenia relies on further approaches: Food that is still edible but can no longer be sold is regularly donated to social organizations. In cooperation with the “Eco School” program, children and young people learn how food is produced, why it is valuable, and how waste can be avoided. Furthermore, in the so-called Mini Factory, surplus food is processed further instead of being disposed of – this results in high-quality and tasty meals from ingredients that would otherwise have been lost.

The measures are part of a long-term approach by Lidl Slovenia to systematically reduce food waste. The focus is not on quick fixes, but on lasting changes in the way food is handled.

The action day is part of Lidl Slovenia's goal to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030 compared to the base year 2019.

Clubs were able to submit their ideas and demonstrate how they take responsibility in their day-to-day activities. In recognition, 200 amateur clubs received exclusive training kits made from recycled materials – materials that were used during UEFA EURO 2024™ and subsequently processed. The kits were developed in collaboration with PreZero, the circular economy division of the Schwarz Group, and serve as a tangible example of how circular systems can work.

Around UEFA EURO 2024™, Lidl aimed to create impact beyond sporting excitement together with its partners. Through the Sustainability Challenge, amateur football clubs across Germany were invited to submit their own ideas for greater environmental and resource protection in everyday club life – from waste separation and reusable systems to other sustainable measures on and off the pitch.

The challenge demonstrates how environmental awareness in sport can take concrete form: creative, accessible and community-driven. Lidl encouraged clubs to test more sustainable solutions, learn from one another and integrate these approaches into their everyday routines over the long term – contributing to greater environmental awareness in grassroots sport.

Every year, hundreds of tons of waste reach the coasts and the seabed of Greece – including plastic bottles, bags, packaging, straws, aluminum waste, and cigarette butts. This pollution burdens sensitive ecosystems and affects coastal landscapes. On average, in Greece, around 1.1 kilograms of plastic waste per inhabitant reach the sea annually – significantly more than the European average of around 0.03 kilograms. Against this background, Lidl Greece is committed to curbing plastic waste and contributing to the protection of Greek coasts and seas.

Since its start in 2020 on Santorini, the campaign has been continuously carried out and is now being implemented for the sixth time. It has covered numerous regions of Greece – be it Rhodes, Paros, Corfu, or Kos. At each location, coastal and underwater cleanups, talks with representatives of local authorities, and educational offers take place. In total, around 20,8 tons of waste have been collected since the start of the initiative, of which about 12 tons were on the coasts and around 8.8 tons underwater.

To actively counteract this, Lidl Greece, together with the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, launched the "Plastic Free Greece" campaign. The goal is to reduce plastic waste on coasts and seabeds, raise awareness of the impact of single-use plastics, and show alternatives in everyday life.

Through this transition, the Schwarz Group will save over 390 tonnes of virgin plastic and around 698 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. This is roughly equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of around 1,400 return flights between Frankfurt and Mallorca. Lidl thus demonstrates how the use of recycled materials in everyday store operations can help conserve resources and strengthen existing material cycles.

When shopping, it is something we all take for granted: the basket in hand. In the future, Lidl baskets will be made from recycled material. Specifically, so-called post-consumer recyclate (PCR) is used – plastic that has already been used and then recycled. The material comes predominantly from household recycling waste, mainly in Germany, and is processed by PreZero, the circular economy division of the Schwarz Group.

In the future, Lidl hand baskets will consist of 75% recycled material, while rolling baskets will be made from 80% recycled content. The transition will take place gradually during ongoing operations. The aim is to reduce the use of virgin plastic and keep materials in circulation as much as possible – without compromising on durability or functionality.