In many regions of the world, water is becoming a scarce resource. Where rivers once flowed, prolonged periods of drought now occur. As an internationally operating food retailer, we systematically analyze water risks in our supply chains and actively manage water consumption through a binding water procurement strategy.
At Lidl, we know that the long-term sourcing of agricultural products such as tomatoes from Spain or grapes from South Africa requires direct action at the producer level. Since agricultural operations depend on a stable water supply, we use a strategic approach that identifies local water risks and translates them into binding requirements for our suppliers.
The foundation is a robust analysis: Using tools such as the water stress index of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the WWF Water Risk Filter, we assess risks at both product and country level. The focus is on particularly water-intensive product groups such as fruit and vegetables, as well as high-risk countries such as Spain, Israel and South Africa.
On this basis, we set minimum standards in production and promote certification according to recognized water standards. In addition, all our textiles containing cotton must come from sources certified according to an independent certification system for organically produced fibers – such as the Organic Content Standard (OCS) – or according to the Better Cotton Initiative standard.
"Water is not negotiable. To ensure we still have fertile soils and clean water tomorrow, we act today – measurably and with impact along our value chain."
Beyond this, we support international initiatives such as the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and contribute our expertise to the further development of standards. In pilot projects, we work together with partners to test how water management can be effectively improved in sensitive regions. At the same time, we specifically exclude solid microplastic particles (according to the definition of the Federal Environment Agency) from the formulations of our Lidl private label cosmetic and personal care products to prevent the entry of non-biodegradable plastics into the water cycle.
