Every year in September is World Cleanup Day: Millions of volunteers and activists all around the world come together as part of the campaign to work towards a cleaner environment. Employees of the companies of Schwarz Group are also participating in the campaign – now for the fourth time in a row: Together, the participants collected waste scattered in public places around Heilbronn and Neckarsulm as part of the jointly organized clean-up campaign.

As companies of Schwarz Group, we have a particular USP (unique selling point) in our cooperation, because together we represent nearly the entire value cycle – from Schwarz Produktion and the two retail divisions Lidl and Kaufland to the environmental and recycling division PreZero. Together, we represent exceptional expertise throughout the entire supply chain – at the same time, however, this also results in consistently high complexity and it is not easy to reconcile all interests.

Is it possible to the sugar reduction in the private label products of the Lidl and Kaufland retail divisions? What does diversity look like in the companies of Schwarz Group? And what connection is there, for example, between agriculture, living wages and packaging? We believe: some things have to be "grasped" in order to really understand them. Through interactive exhibits, guessing questions and product tastings, our Corporate Responsibility team at Schwarz Corporate Communications brings to life the jointly developed sustainability strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group.

Everyone can make a difference and contribute to the protection of the environment: This was proven once again this year by approximately 300 students of the Josef Schwarz School in Heilbronn. With the support from the areas of Corporate Responsibility of Schwarz Corporate Communications and Social Engagement of Schwarz Dienstleistungen, under the motto of “Less pollution – more community”, the students cleared the garbage in our region lying around the Neckar.

Toni Thudium is the head of the Energy Systems team at Schwarz Immobilien Services and is responsible for the development of holistic strategies for the safe, efficient, and sustainable supply of energy to the Schwarz Group companies. On International Sun Day, he talks about the difference between renewable energy and gray energy – and about the reasons why some stores in Germany are relying on North Sea winds during the night.

Electricity from 100 percent* renewable energy from 2022 – a fundamental building block of the jointly developed climate strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group. This is how we, the companies of Schwarz Group, want to make a contribution to the Paris climate agreement and to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. With the long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) now signed with RWE Supply & Trading, this goal is now receiving tailwind: Lidl and Kaufland in Germany will draw their electricity partially directly from an offshore wind farm in the North Sea in the future.

As part of the joint sustainability strategy and the REset Plastic strategy, the companies of Schwarz Group are also supporting the removal of plastic waste from rivers, lakes and the sea. The joint vision is to turn the waste of today into the raw materials of tomorrow. To this end, a variety of activities were initiated and implemented on a local, national and global level; this commitment yields tangible results.

Whether as customers, employees or business partners, people are at the heart of what we do.

To mark the World Cleanup Day on September 16, 2022, more than 1000 employees of the Schwarz Group showed their commitment for greater environmental protection. The cleanup event was organized by the Corporate Responsibility Team.

At the beginning of September, Lebensmittelzeitung and packREPORT invited to the Packaging 360° Summit, the Packaging Congress of the FMCG industry – “Fast Moving Consumer Goods”. Over the course of two days, experts presented current challenges and innovations on the topic of packaging, discussing exciting approaches and scientific backgrounds to the solutions.