Climate protection, resource scarcity, digital transformation. The challenges of the 21st century are complex. As one of the largest retail groups in the world, we take our responsibility to society, politics and the environment seriously. We do what we do best: We act – and are always one step ahead. With innovative solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
The companies of Schwarz Group seize opportunities and act ahead: We are already working on the solutions before the challenges become real problems. This is an expression of our aspiration to actively shape the future, which simultaneously sends out a clear message: It is up to all of us now to set the course for the future. What does that mean exactly? Keep watching to find out.
Today’s waste becomes tomorrow’s recyclable material: old packaging is turned into new plastic shampoo bottles, for example. PreZero, our circular economy division, collects, sorts, recycles and reprocesses waste - from household waste to electrical appliances to plastic packaging. The goal: to reuse recyclable waste again and again, keeping it in a closed loop. Our success rate: In the 2025 fiscal year, 90.1 percent of operational waste generated in the companies of Schwarz Group was reused, recycled, composted or fermented. In the calculation of this target, the stricter (DIN SPEC 91436) standard is applied, since the companies of Schwarz Group deliberately exclude thermal recovery with energy recovery. Waste generated at our own recovery and disposal facilities, as well as construction waste, is also excluded.
*Since 2021, single-use PET bottles for Lidl and Kaufland own brands have been made from 100% recycled material (with the exception of the cap and label). As a result, production by Schwarz Produktion companies saved about 67,000 metric tons of virgin plastic in fiscal year 2025.
You can find more information on the circular economy strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group on our circular economy page.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
Fully stocked shelves are no longer a given. This was demonstrated not only by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by other disruptions to the value and supply chains. With Schwarz Produktion, we secure the supply of important items for Lidl and Kaufland: from baked goods to coffee, from chocolate and other products to beverages. At the same time, we are driving forward resource-conserving food production for a number of our Lidl and Kaufland private label brands – for example with the bodies of our closed-loop bottles (without label and cap), which in Germany consist of 100 percent recycled material, and with chocolate made from Fairtrade-certified cocoa.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
The more diverse the solutions, the more effective the protection of our planet: With our unique ecosystem of production, retail, recycling and digitalization, we take a holistic approach to climate protection. We are reducing emissions in transportation, for example, by electrifying logistics with electric trucks and expanding the charging infrastructure. With more than four million square meters of photovoltaic systems installed across our sites, we generate electricity from renewable sources. We are increasingly focusing on energy- and resource-efficient construction methods — as demonstrated by more than 5,000 of our buildings with recognized sustainability certificates (EDGE, DGNB).
*By 2050 at the latest, the companies of Schwarz Group will reduce all greenhouse gas emissions generated along the entire value chain to net zero. Unavoidable residual emissions will be neutralized through carbon removal solutions in accordance with the SBTi standard.
You can find more information on the climate strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group on our climate page.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
Food is a lever for reducing our carbon footprint. That is why we are making lower-emission food available and, above all, affordable for everyone: At Lidl and Kaufland in Germany, plant-sourced proteins match the price of comparable animal-sourced products. So, it is the customer who chooses between meat and veggie rather than their budget. In addition, the companies of Schwarz Group are working intensively with their partners to deliver effective solutions for reducing emissions in the supply chain. We are supporting farmers in the field to transform their operations to more sustainable practices, for example, through empowerment programs such as Supplier LOCT (Leadership on Climate Transition).
You can find more information on the climate strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group on our climate page.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
Doing business sustainably in the digital age also means being independent: With Schwarz Digits, we operate 1,250 IT and digital solutions. From cloud and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence and secure communication – always conforming to the highest European data protection standards. In this way, we guarantee the greatest possible digital sovereignty for a sustainable, future-oriented economy and society.
Acting Ahead rather than just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
The world is changing. We need makers to shape the future: with around 10,000 students and trainees, we are already promoting the talents of tomorrow. From e-commerce and digital transformation to data science and cyber security. From retail and event technology to circular economy and confectionery technology. We are taking the future into our own hands. With 168 different nationalities and a wide variety of expertise and perspectives, our colleagues are as diverse as our unique ecosystem of companies. Together, we are shaping change in a complex and interconnected world.
Acting Ahead instead of just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
Acting Ahead is teamwork. Because a “we” is stronger than many “I ”s: with our 604,000 employees, stakeholders and strong partners from business, society and sports, we therefore focus on long-term cooperations. Together with partners in sports, we bring healthy nutrition to athletes and fans, promote circular economy and strengthen digital sovereignty of leagues and clubs. Successful: alone in the stadium of the TSG Hoffenheim (formerly PreZero Arena), we have managed to reduce the residual waste rate to less than 10 percent. Together, we are tackling what matters – before it matters.
Acting Ahead instead of just thinking ahead – the companies of Schwarz Group.
