Lidl to sell carbon neutral Cheddar by the end of this year
Lidl is to create a carbon-neutral Cheddar cheese by the end of 2021 as part of its commitment to reduce carbon across its supply chain.
Working with long-standing supplier Wyke Farms, the supermarket said the project will aim to save 22.5 million kgs of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent weight of more than 1,875 double-decker buses. At Lidl GB, chilled cheese is the second biggest carbon emitter in the supply chain.
The Cheddar will reach carbon neutrality by the end of the year through a mixture of sustainable farming, improved business practices and the purchase of “gold-standard” carbon credits. The supermarket will begin displaying its carbon neutral pledge on Lidl Deluxe Cheddar products from this week.
Lidl will work directly with Wyke Farms farmer suppliers to help them take action to reduce their on-farm emissions. This work will span feed management, soil and land management, manure management, herd management and energy management.
Lidl said The Carbon Trust will verify the project to ensure the approach taken stands up to scientific principles.
Lidl and Wyke Farms are also working together to pioneer a closed-loop system by 2030, which will ensure that carbon neutrality is being achieved from completely within the supply chain itself.
Amali Bunter, head of responsible sourcing and ethical trade at Lidl GB, said: “At Lidl, we’re passionate about making good food accessible for everyone, produced in ways that benefit producers and our planet. We are also committed to future-proofing British farming by helping introduce more sustainable practices. Our partnership with Wyke Farms is aiming to tackle some of the barriers to addressing carbon-neutrality in farming. Developing a closed-loop system requires significant investment, but we believe that this pioneering programme will help set the standard for our supplier practices going forward.”
