Lidl Seeks To Set Standards For Sustainable Water Management

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2023. 10. 13. 09:58

Lidl has set a series of standards for sustainable water management, saying that by February 2026, 100% of the fruit and vegetables that it sources from nine risk countries, including Spain, Egypt, Greece and Italy, will be certified according to recognised water standards.

The move forms part of the discounter’s ‘Towards Tomorrow’ sustainability strategy, it said in a statement, adding that agriculture is responsible for 70% of global water consumption.

The retailer will work with the WWF’s water risk filter to ensure that recognised water usage standards are met with regard to products sourced from Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Chile and South Africa.

Sustainable Water Management

Lidl is also guided by water standards including the GlobalG.A.P. SPRING (Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use) standard – which contains a set of criteria for assessing sustainable water management on farms.

In addition, as a member of the multi-stakeholder initiative Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), Lidl has pledged to support joint projects in river areas with high water risk. In spring 2022 for example, a large producer and a cooperative in southern Spain on a total area of 1,100 hectares, received AWS certification.

ESM