In Germany alone, around eleven million tonnes of food are wasted every year. This includes fruit and vegetables that remain unsold, even though they are perfectly good apart from minor cosmetic imperfections. With our Lidl Rescue Bags, we are actively working to reduce this waste – ensuring that food ends up on plates instead of in bins.
Whether bruises or small imperfections: by the end of the day, some fruit and vegetables no longer meet our visual quality standards. Yet many of these products are still perfectly good in taste and far too valuable to be discarded. That is why Lidl introduced the Rescue Bag in 2022 as part of the “Save Me” initiative, gradually rolling it out across more and more Lidl countries.
This gives fruit and vegetables that fall short in appearance a second chance. Because we know how much work, time and resources go into every single product. From sowing in the field and harvesting to transport into our Lidl stores, each item has already come a long way – and deserves to be consumed.
Our approach is simple: waste less, make more of an impact. A Rescue Bag contains three to five kilograms of fruit and vegetables with minor imperfections or slight external damage – offered at a significantly reduced price. In this way, we are taking a clear stand against food waste.
"Reducing food loss is a key area of action for us. Every item saved is an important success – for the value chain, the environment and climate protection."
In more than 20 Lidl countries, the Rescue Bag concept is now an integral part of our in-store offering. In the 2025 financial year alone, we were able to prevent over 100,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables from being discarded. In doing so, we are not just saving individual tomatoes or pears – we are taking a clear stance together with our customers. Because for us, every item placed in the shopping basket makes a difference. For your purchase, for the people behind the products and for a more conscious approach to food.
