Climate change demands concrete action. As an international food retailer, we see it as our responsibility to measurably reduce emissions and contribute to limiting global warming. Our answer is net zero by 2050.
When fields dry out, refrigerated transport is delayed, supply routes are disrupted by extreme weather or raw material prices rise, one thing becomes clear: the climate crisis is already a reality. We are all experiencing an increase in extreme weather events such as droughts, heavy rainfall, heatwaves and storms. At the same time, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, biodiversity is declining and ecosystems are being destroyed. These developments not only threaten the environment and society, but also pose new challenges to our business model.
As a company that relies on functioning supply chains, high-quality raw materials and stable conditions, we are taking consistent action – reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero as far as possible by mid-century. Our guiding principle is clear: together with our partners and suppliers, we aim to avoid emissions wherever possible – and reduce them where they cannot be fully prevented. To achieve this, we implement targeted measures based on an annually compiled carbon footprint covering both our own operations and the entire value chain.
"Climate protection is a global challenge that can only be addressed through collective action. As an international company, Lidl takes responsibility beyond national borders – because our commitment to the planet cannot stop at those borders."
Our climate strategy is based on clear science-based targets and puts us on a path to net zero by 2050 across all Lidl countries – covering all business areas and the entire supply chain. As early as 2020, the companies of Schwarz Group joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to contribute to achieving the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. In line with the SBTi methodology, climate targets were jointly defined, underpinned by concrete measures to reduce and avoid CO₂ emissions in operations and across the value chain. These science-based targets were validated and approved by the SBTi in 2021 and revalidated in 2025. Learn more about the Schwarz Group’s net-zero target here.
As part of the companies of Schwarz Group’s climate strategy, we have developed our own climate strategy with additional targets, which we continuously refine and adapt to new insights. The foundation of our climate management is a comprehensive carbon footprint. It enables us to systematically capture emissions, identify reduction potentials, assess the impact of our measures and transparently track our progress towards our climate targets.
The SBTi is a global alliance of leading environmental organisations, scientific institutions and companies. Its aim is to develop science-based pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with international climate goals. The initiative provides companies worldwide with clear standards, sector-specific guidance and consistent evaluation criteria – and formally validates submitted climate targets. In doing so, it creates transparency, comparability and accountability on the path towards a more climate-friendly economy.
Through its net-zero commitment under the SBTi, the Schwarz Group has committed to reducing all emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest. Our direct emissions – for example from company-owned vehicles and heating of our buildings (Scope 1) – and our indirect emissions from purchased energy such as electricity or district heating (Scope 2) account for only a small share of our overall carbon footprint. Since the 2025 financial year, we no longer offset Scope 1 and 2 emissions, but instead focus consistently on actual reductions within our own operations. More than 99% of our emissions occur along our value chain (Scope 3), for example in the production, packaging, processing and transport of our products. This is therefore where our greatest leverage for effective climate action lies.
Our climate strategy is more than a target – it is a framework that guides our daily decisions. The impacts of the climate crisis are no longer a distant scenario; they are already happening. With our clear path to net zero, we aim not only to future-proof our business model, but also to take responsibility for future generations, for our customers and for the environment on which we all depend.
