Fully one third of all the food produced in the world ends up in the bin. As food production requires the use of many, often scarce, resources, the impact on the environment is considerable: wasted food means wasted water, soil, working time and energy.

Gerd Chrzanowski, CEO Schwarz Group has a stark response:

“It is time to take action.”

“The resources of our planet are limited. Nevertheless, we are taking up more and more land and using more and more raw materials: today, we already need the resources of 1.75 earths to meet the demand.”

Thomas Kyriakis, CEO at PreZero says that operating as a separate business unit within the group gives them scope to make a more integrated impact:

“As PreZero, we are responsible for collecting post-consumer waste, from which we generate high-quality recyclate through a recycling process for new products that we can then sell in our retail stores. By doing this we save valuable resources for the planet.”

As an international corporate group, we have an impact on society and the environment in many areas. We take this responsibility very seriously. That is why we joined the UN Global Compact in 2020. We shape our actions by our group-wide sustainability strategy with four focus topics

People – including fair wages and targeted empowerment

Product Quality – addressing mindful nutrition and certified raw
materials that reduce the impact on the environment and promote welfare standards

Circulatory Systems – smart recycling and conscious use of materials to ensure that w

Ecosystems – from saving water to active climate protection through carbon reduction

The approach to circulatory systems is one which perhaps other businesses have neglected. Stephanie Griesbaum, Board Member of Kaufland, says that changing the approach to plastics use is an opportunity to make major improvements in the company’s overall ecological footprint:

“Lidl and Kaufland have committed to reduce the use of plastic in a significant way and to maximise its recyclability. This is in line with our objective to use an average of 25 percent of recycled plastic in our private-label packaging.

Chrzanowski says that the big picture for the company is to massively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions: the group has adopted the science-based target initiative on greenhouse gasses and developed their own more challenging climate target:

“We will reduce 55 percent of our operational greenhouse gases by 2030 compared to 2019. Lidl and Kaufland are going one step further: we will make our operations climate neutral starting in 2022. Charging stations, the expansion of a climate neutral product range, energy-efficient buildings and our plastics strategy REset Plastic are just some of the measures we are already implementing today.”

For Schwarz Group, however, Chrzanowski believes that their true power to make a difference lies in leveraging their partnerships:

“As a food retailer we are well aware that food cultivation and production play an important role. Therefore we support our in the climate protection efforts. Our goal is to use our size and company strength to set standards for an appreciative togetherness and an environment worth living in.”

In all its efforts, Schwarz Group focuses on people and ensures that customers are able to play their part too in creating a better future for the whole planet. Because it is only through joint action that global challenges can be mastered.