Since 2020, Lidl has been making its fruit and vegetable network more responsible. The banana sector is considered to be at very high risk and it is also one of the most popular fruits among French consumers. As of early 2022, 100% of the Lidl bananas are certified organic and fairtrade (Max Havelaar or Rainforest Alliance). Lidl is now going one step further and setting up partnerships in order to submit its objectives and courses of action.
With Banana Link, a non-profit cooperative striving for fair and sustainable trade, especially in the banana sector, Lidl is committed to better remuneration of plantation workers. Since February 2022, Lidl has been contributing financially to Banana Link’s research-action process for better remuneration of banana workers in Ivory Coast. Lidl is also participating in a working group involving mass retailers, which will help define a plan with a number of actors in order to spread the cost of increasing wages throughout the value chain. The multi-stakeholder workshops will be held in early 2023.
With Cirad, the French center in agricultural research and international cooperation for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions, Lidl is committed to improving crop protection practices. The first step defined with Cirad for 2022 is the construction of a progress approach based on a thorough analysis of the cultivation practices on the banana plantations supplying Lidl and aimed at setting up agroecological practices. This work will be conducted in consultation and with the active participation of Lidl suppliers. Another objective is a reduction by 50% of the use of synthetic pesticides in the field and post-harvest by 2030.
For more information:
lidl.fr