Corporate social responsibility is an important part of the corporate philosophy of Lidl Srbija
The company’s responsibility motto is “For a better tomorrow”, and it is in accordance with this that Lidl bases its activities on five pillars of responsibility: assortment, employees, environment, society and business partners, through which the company ensures that high quality is affordable, while advocating for the well-being of everyone who comprises the society, achieving long-term partnerships, taking care of its employees and preserving the natural environment.
REset plastic
With a desire to preserve and improve the environment in which it operates, a special segment of Lidl’s responsibility is accounted for by a responsible attitude towards the natural environment, through a reduction in environmental pollution and the saving of energy and natural resources.
Given that plastic waste is becoming an ever increasing problem for the planet, Lidl is implementing the measures of REset Plastic, the international strategy for plastics that was launched in 2018 by the Schwarz Gruppe. Within the scope of this strategy, activities are focused on five areas of action:
• REduce – reducing the use of plastic, which implies the withdrawing of plastic bags from all Lidl stores in Belgrade in early 2020, while bags thicker than 50 microns, which are durable and suitable for multiple use, have been introduced in other cities.
• REdesign – the use of more responsible packaging is reflected in Lidl’s international commitment to reduce the percentage of polymeric materials in products of its private brand by 20% by the end of 2025. Another goal is to ensure all Lidl brand plastic packaging is recyclable by the end of 2025.
• REcycle – directed towards increasing the use of recycled plastics, this area encompasses continuous increases in the share of recycled plastic products in the Lidl range. Thus, at Lidl you can find products like Crivit sports shoes, which are made from plastic collected on beaches and coastal areas, or winter jackets that have a stuffing made from recycled bottles.
• REmove – implying the removal of waste from nature. The aim is to protect natural resources through the active removal of plastics. In accordance with this, together with partners from the Mountain Rescue Service and company Ekostar Pak, Lidl has organised the cleaning of Nature Parks on four Serbian mountains.
• REsearch – encompassing the area of encouraging environmental innovation and education. The Lidl market has introduced reusable 30-degree machine-washable bags that can carry up to five kilograms of the customer’s favourite fruits or vegetables.
Given that plastic waste is becoming an ever increasing problem for the planet, Lidl is implementing the measures of REset Plastic, the international strategy for plastics that was launched in 2018 by the Schwarz Gruppe
REmove – activities to clean mountains in Serbia
The goal of the initiative for cleaning Serbia’s mountains, implemented this autumn, is to preserve the environment and natural resources. Apart from cleaning up waste that endangers our nature, we also strive to educate citizens and raise awareness of how to reduce waste, how to properly dispose of it and successfully recycle it after it is removed from nature, in accordance with the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”.
Lidl launched this action on Mount Kopaonik. Volunteers removed waste from nature on the slopes of the National Park, one part of which has the highest concentration of accommodation facilities and cable cars, and thus a large fluctuation of visitors and, accordingly, a large amount of waste that they leave behind. This endeavour resulted in the collecting of as much as 45kg of waste.
The next cleaning operation was organised on the Balkan Mountain, Stara Planina. Volunteers participating in this action met up at the Mountain Lodge on the Pirot side of the mountain. From there they headed to Zavoj Lake, only to continue cleaning in the area towards the popular excursion areas of Rosomački lonci and Tupavica Waterfall. The action yielded around 20 kg of waste for recycling.
Fruška Gora was cleaned in October 2020, with a total of 60 bags of waste collected. The cleaning was carried out on Irig Wreath, which has been a favourite picnic spot for years and had accumulated waste that’s left behind by unscrupulous visitors.
This year’s action for removing waste from the mountains of Serbia culminated on Zlatibor. Cleaning activities encompassed the area around the popular hiking trail to the Monument, which is a mandatory route for every visitor to this mountain. These four actions resulted in the collecting of a total of 150 bags of waste, both communal and recyclable, which was taken and further processed by the partner specialised in taking care of its disposal – Ekostar Pak.
In December 2020 Lidl employees from 30 cities across Serbia were given the opportunity to use funds initially earmarked for annual celebrations to instead select and suggest good causes to receive donations, with the company setting aside five million dinars for that purpose
Instead of celebrations, five million dinars for humanitarian purposes
Alongside the strategic and long-term activities mentioned in the area of ensuring a more responsible attitude towards plastics, Lidl is also actively engaged in helping where it is most needed, for humanitarian purposes. In December 2020 Lidl employees from 30 cities across Serbia were given the opportunity to use funds initially earmarked for annual celebrations to instead select and suggest good causes to receive donations, with the company setting aside five million dinars for that purpose.
Support was provided to both individuals who are raising funds for medical treatment and to institutions working with neglected children and children with disabilities that are based in the same cities as employees in Lidl stores – from Subotica, via Sombor, Belgrade and Loznica, to Niš.
Most of the money, according to the wishes of employees, has been allocated for the treatment of 15 people registered through the “Budi Human” foundation. In cooperation with this humanitarian foundation, an amount of around four million was directed for the treatment of 14 children and one adult who were most in need at that moment.
Help was provided to: Minja Matić, Anika Manić, Oliver Pal Gajodi, Anđela Dimitrijević, Dejan Radojčić, Dražan Vučić, Filip Ivanović, Filip Radojčić, Ivan Filipčev, Jovan Panajotov, Kalina Rašeta, Nataša Stojanov, Ognjen Stojanović, Ognjen Žužić and Pavle Paunović.
When it comes to local institutions, again respecting the wishes of employees, the remaining part of the total funds was sent to the Centre for the Accommodation and Stay of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities in Obrenovac, the Vera Blagojević Home for Children and Youth in Banja Koviljaca, the Duško Radović Home in Niš, the Spomenak Home for children without parental care in Pančevo, the Home for children with developmental disabilities at the Monastery of St. Petka in Izvor near Paraćin, the Humanizacija Association in Sombor and Kolevka Home for children with developmental disabilities in Subotica.
With these donations, the Lidl collective showed that humanity must be above everything, for a better tomorrow for everyone.