Whether it’s an Alpine meadow or a rainforest: in nature, every intact area counts. Lidl is therefore involved in selected projects that contribute to the protection of biodiversity. Together with partners like WWF, we protect and revitalize natural areas—even beyond our own supply chains. For the protection of local ecosystems worldwide, which benefits us all.
Moors that store water. Meadows where wild bees hum. Forests that breathe. Nature is a carbon sink, a water source, a food base, and a climate regulator. If it is destroyed, our social and economic systems also lose their balance. To stabilize these habitats, we anchor requirements for controlled cultivation standards in the procurement processes of our supply chains. To this end, we require independent certifications such as EU Organic, Rainforest Alliance, or Fairtrade for specific product groups, which verify the implementation of soil- and resource-conserving practices on the agricultural land relevant to us. Furthermore, we are committed to the preservation and restoration of valuable habitats through targeted projects.
In selected nature conservation projects, we bundle these measures at an international level, ranging from coastal protection in Poland to the re-wetting of moors in Switzerland. In doing so, we support the protection of regional ecosystems and the communities living there.
What makes this special: Our goal is to finance the protection of areas even where supply chains formally end. In cooperation with expert partners like WWF, we work on application-oriented solutions. The focus is on reforestation, renaturation, monitoring endangered species, and knowledge transfer in local communities.
"An intact environment is the foundation for our food production and our livelihood. By specifically funding nature conservation projects with experienced partners like WWF, we support the measurable preservation of biological diversity at the origin of our raw materials."
Lidl International is currently supporting three major WWF conservation projects to preserve and restore ecosystems exactly where Lidl-relevant products like fruit, cocoa, or fish originate:
Lidl national companies have also been committed to local nature conservation for years. Their projects are diverse and demonstrate how significant small measures can be in total:
Lidl Switzerland has been working with WWF Switzerland from 2017 until 2025. Employees had the chance to participate in nature assignments during working hours—such as creating habitats for small mammals, clearing scrub from moors, or maintaining Alpine pastures. This strengthened team spirit and environmental awareness. Additionally, Lidl Switzerland supported a WWF moor protection project with CHF 50,000 annually for the re-wetting and preservation of these valuable CO₂ sinks.
Lidl Finland supported the maintenance of rare, species-rich "heritage meadows"—a vital habitat for endangered pollinators—from 2022 to 2024. Since 2025, the company has also started to work together with WWF Finland to construct wetlands, which play a key role in biodiversity, water regulation, and climate mitigation.
Lidl Bulgaria has been committed to preserving the Balkan trout, one of Europe's most endangered fish species, since 2013 through the project "Give Balkan Trout a Chance." Over 400,000 young fish were released into selected river sections over a period of ten years. The project is supplemented by riverbank clean-ups and educational measures to protect local biodiversity.
In 2025, Lidl Poland and WWF Poland signed a three‑year agreement to support environmental projects. During the first year of the partnership, Lidl Poland supported a marine biodiversity conservation initiative in the Baltic Sea, including the protection of seals and coastal bird species. The work is carried out by around 200 WWF Blue Patrol' volunteers. Along the entire Polish coastline (approx. 500 km), volunteers patrol the beaches, rescue injured or stranded seals, and protect bird nesting sites. Volunteers also actively raise awareness within local communities and tourists.
