Eine Frau räumt ihre Einkäufe in ihr Auto. Eine Frau räumt ihre Einkäufe in ihr Auto.

Product Quality

The contribution of the companies of Schwarz Group to conscious consumption

As the companies of Schwarz Group, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to quality – sustainable, safe and healthy. In addition to a sustainable assortment and the use of certified raw materials, the companies of Schwarz Group focus on unequivocal and transparent product information. After all, this is the only way to enable consumers to make informed choices. The companies of Schwarz Group rely on established and new labels that act as anchors when consumers make purchasing decisions.

These range from information on our supply chain, which we are making more transparent through digital traceability, all the way to initiatives to promote understanding among our customers on how to use food and natural resources responsibly.

The retail divisions of Schwarz Group have an impact on the environment through the selection and composition of the groceries on offer. The development of our assortment increasingly incorporates social and ecological criteria and focuses on the responsible use of raw materials.

Conscious nutrition

Reduction targets for salt and sugar

The companies of Schwarz Group are focusing on reducing sugar, salt, and fat. To bring this about, the retail divisions and Schwarz Produktion have adopted appropriate reduction strategies that considerably reduce the proportion of the named ingredients.

Reduction targets for salt and sugar

Our measures

Eine Person hält eine Birne und einen Apfel in den Händen.

Promoting conscious food choices

Lidl and Kaufland are initiating and supporting projects and initiatives around the world that give children and adults an understanding of how to use food and natural resources responsibly. Lidl has supported the “5 am Tag” (5 a day) association since 2016 with the “Lidl-Fruchtschule” (Lidl Fruit School). In 2019, until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic some 200 classes and 18,000 students had taken part in Lidl’s “Fruchtschule” every year around Germany. In Germany too, Kaufland promotes conscious food choices, with the retail division hosting campaign days on nutrition for students as part of the program “Machen macht Schule” (Taking action in the classroom). These are based on an nutritional education concept and are conducted in schools by certified nutritional experts.

 

Abbildung der Nutri-Score Nährwertkennzeichnung

Nutritional labels

To show nutritional values at a glance, Lidl and Kaufland have also successfully tested the introduction of the simplified nutritional label Nutri-Score for their private labels. Since 2020, Kaufland has implemented the Nutri-Score label on its private label products. Lidl began implementing the nutritional label for the own brands “Trattoria Alfredo” and “Crownfield” in 2021, and is rolling out the Nutri-Score in all countries where it is legally possible.

Frau trägt eine Holzbox mit frischem Gemüse

Fresh fruit and vegetables

Every day, hundreds of tons of fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered to over 13,300 Lidl and Kaufland stores around the world. In order to come to a joint high standard in relation to substances, Lidl and Kaufland have drawn up the Schwarz Banned Substances List for fresh fruit and vegetables together. The defined list has 203 active substances on it and is implemented by both retail divisions in all countries. To ensure consistent high quality, all deliveries are closely scrutinized according to standardized processes. The pesticide management strategy is underpinned by approximately 100,000 independent chemical production tests annually.

Certified raw materials

The companies of Schwarz Group will organize procurement so it is even more sustainable in the future – and use relevant raw materials from growers certified by third parties for private label products. With the corresponding strategic targets in purchasing, both Lidl and Kaufland are accelerating the implementation of concrete division-specific raw material targets that are incorporated into the raw materials strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group.

Portraitbild von Dr. Gerd Müller

 

"Sustainable supply chains play a significant role in climate protection, particularly in the food and textile industries. The companies of the Schwarz Group with Lidl and Kaufland don't just support sustainable clothing production with the 'Green Button.' It is also committed to implementing essential ecological standards in the production of food in developing countries."

– Dr. Gerd Müller, CDU/CSU, former German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development

Our measures

Average figures from sustainable cocoa in private label products

Recognized standards and sustainable procurement of food products

Strong partners and their certification systems play a key role for a more sustainable procurement.  In the food industry, the retail divisions rely on recognized standards such as Fairtrade, organic, and the Rainforest Alliance to promote the social and environmentally sustainable production of food. The companies of Schwarz Group will organize procurement so it is even more sustainable in the future – and use relevant raw materials from growers certified by third parties for private label products. This applies to soy, coffee, cocoa, palm (kernel) oil, cotton, fish, and fish products. For own-brand articles containing cocoa, the companies of Schwarz Group already almost exclusively rely on certified sustainable cocoa.

Abbildung einer Baumwollpflanze

Sustainable textiles

The retail companies are also focusing on sustainable and recyclable products in the textile industry. Lidl and Kaufland are therefore integrating different social and/or environmentally-relevant certifications for their products: Both retail divisions have committed to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the Organic Content Standard (OCS), and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), and have been certified accordingly. Their textile goods made from organic cotton are certified – insofar as possible given goods availability, qualities, and economic factors – according to the ambitious criteria of the GOTS, OCS, or GRS standards. On top of this, Lidl and Kaufland are partners of the “Cotton made in Africa” initiative. Through this cooperation, they are actively advocating for socially and ecologically sustainable cotton production in Africa right at the start of the textile supply chain, and ensure that the raw materials that they procure for their own brands can be cultivated and purchased under more responsible conditions. What is more, in 2019 Lidl and Kaufland were among the first German retailers to have themselves and their merchandise certified according to the social and environmental criteria of the German government’s seal for sustainably produced textiles, the “Grüner Knopf” (Green Button). Employee clothing is also subjected to the highest sustainability standards. The employee clothing of all store employees at Lidl and Kaufland worldwide is made from organic cotton according to the stringent GOTS criteria, and has been awarded the Grüner Knopf. Our store clothing at Lidl and Kaufland is also made from cotton that is 100 percent Fairtrade certified.

 

Abbildung eines Felds mit Blumenkohlanbau

Regional and certified organic assortment

In collaboration with well-respected associations, Lidl and Kaufland are increasingly offering their customers local and organic food produced in line with high standards. Since November 2018, Lidl in Germany has cooperated with Bioland, the leading organization for organic agriculture in Germany and South Tirol. In total, some 110 permanently listed items from the food area are already produced according to Bioland’s rigorous criteria, including numerous flour and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, eggs, and potato snacks. By 2025, Lidl in Germany wants 10 percent of the permanent assortment to be organic or Bioland food, with the aim of promoting sustainable agriculture. Kaufland offers numerous food items in Demeter quality. By now, the assortment has grown to over 250 products and includes juices, dairy products, spreads, baked goods, baby food, and fruit and vegetables. Since 2022, Kaufland has been collaborating with Bioland as part of a partnership. This means that the own-brand K-Bio now also includes products with the Bioland certification.

Please note: The words "we," "us," or "our," or similar, stand for all the companies of Schwarz Group.