Lidl Ireland Helps to Absorb up to 12,500 Tonnes of Carbon Through Native Woodland Scheme

Retailer Celebrates Earth Day with Planting of 82,000 Native Trees

As part of their sustainability strategy, ‘A Better Tomorrow’, Lidl Ireland has committed to a native tree planting partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’ (WEF) initiative sees Lidl plant over 82,000 trees across Ireland in 2020. The move comes as Lidl seeks solutions to meet expanding climate and biodiversity challenges. The first and largest of the native woodland sites has completed planting in Burnellstown, Co. Westmeath where almost 33,000 trees were planted ahead of Earth Day which takes place on Wednesday 22^nd April.

Working closely with Sustineo, a carbon and energy consultancy, forestry companies and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Lidl will support a new native woodland in Co. Westmeath. Lidl’s involvement in this initiative will expand their ‘A Better Tomorrow’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy which is already working to reduce carbon emissions through certifying the company’s new stores across the country to an ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard. This project is intended to absorb approximately 12,500 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and to compliment the landscape as a protected native woodland. Lidl has also undergone a comprehensive carbon footprint mapping to understand environmental impacts, develop solutions and work with supermarket’s value chain in supporting the overall sustainability strategy. 

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle said “I would like to congratulate Lidl for joining my Department’s ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’. Creating new forests is by far the best land use activity for taking carbon from the atmosphere and today Lidl has given their support to creating a new 10-hectare woodland. This forest will help to recreate the type of ancient woodland that once covered the Irish landscape thousands of years ago and will also make a huge contribution to improving Irish biodiversity. We need leaders in climate action like Lidl, businesses that are willing to get behind new innovative schemes like the WEF and I would encourage others to consider joining also”.

Commenting on the initiative, J.P. Scally, Managing Director at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “Our CSR strategy is at the core of our business and we’re always looking for ways we can expand it. As we’re fully committed to ensuring we drive positive change not only for our customers but the environment as well, we’re pleased to be involved in the Woodland Environmental Fund initiative and to be working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by helping to restore a richer biodiversity in Ireland through our contribution to reforesting our countryside.” 

Across Lidl’s 163 store network nationwide, all new stores are built with sustainability in mind and incorporate a selection of environmentally friendly features including an ISO 50001 certified Energy Management System, a solar panel system and two electric vehicle charger spaces, enabling customers to charge their electric vehicles free of charge whilst they shop. All Lidl wood products are certified FSC or PFC or coming from recycled wood sources. Lidl Ireland is also signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and reports annually on its biodiversity actions including green roofs on suitable stores, a wildflower meadow at their Newbridge Distribution Centre and an ever-expanding pollinator friendly plant range.