How ethical and sustainable is Lidl?
Lidl is included in The Good Shopping Guide‘s Supermarket Ethical Ratings Table. The brand obtains a satisfactory Good Shopping Guide Ethical Score and thereby passes our ethical criterion as a good ethical brand. We encourage other Supermarkets to follow Lidl’s lead and implement more ethical rules and procedures.
More information on sustainable supermarkets may be found in The Good Shopping Guide to Ethical Supermarkets. Then, in our Supermarkets Ethical Ratings Table compare it to other stores.
What does Lidl do?
Lidl supermarket is owned by global retail company Schwarz Gruppe GmbH. Since opening its first store in 1994, Lidl has grown to have over 800 outlets and 13 distribution centres all around the United Kingdom. Lidl offers a variety of goods, such as tea, fruits, bread products, meat, and more.
In what areas does Lidl score well for its ethics?
Lidl scores well for its Environmental Report, not using Genetically Modified items, and offering certain Fairtrade bananas, chocolate, and flowers. The brand also offers Vegetarian and vegan options as well as having an Oaklands range that is Soil Association certified. On its website, Lidl publishes multiple sustainability sections with several comprehensive goals in areas including sourcing, packaging and climate change.
How could Lidl rate higher on our Supermarket Ethical Ratings Table?
Lidl is eligible for Ethical Accreditation due to its satisfactory score according to The Good Shopping Guide, this is examined by looking at the Environment, Animals, and People within a company and how much the brand considers this.
Ethical Accreditation boosts customer trust in a brand and serves as a certification for businesses to demonstrate that they meet a high ethical standard. Lidl could improve its Ethical Rating score further by re-evaluating its treatment of both Animals and Humans throughout its supply chain. As the brand faced multiple Animal Welfare and Human Rights issues, which you can read about here.
Why not check out The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation if you work for or with a Supermarket that places ethics and sustainability high on its priority list? Contact us to learn more, or complete our short form for an initial sustainability, ESG and CSR evaluation.
Ethical performance in category
GSG score
GSG category benchmark
Ethical Rating
Environment
-
Environmental Report
Good
-
Genetic Modification
Good
-
Organic
Good
-
Nuclear Power
Good
Animal
-
Animal Welfare
Poor
-
Vegetarian/Vegan
Good
People
-
Armaments
Good
-
Political Donations
Good
-
Human Rights
Poor
-
Fairtrade
Good
Other
-
Ethical Accreditation
Poor
-
Other Criticisms
Acceptable
= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating