Lidl opens the most sustainable supermarket in the Netherlands
The most sustainable supermarket in the Netherlands is opening in Almere. Lidl is opening a new store there that is incredibly green, from the insulation in the walls to the grass surrounding the building.
Lidl’s new branch is the first CO2- and energy-neutral supermarket in the Netherlands. How do they manage it? The entire store is essentially a construction kit, because it can be completely dismantled and recycled. Those old blue polo shirts worn by the employees? They are now being used as insulation for the building’s front façade—sustainability at its best. And it doesn’t stop at the store: the surrounding area has also been made greener. For example, the supermarket has planted elephant grass because it absorbs a lot of water.
Charge your bicycle
The refrigerators and freezers hum away thanks to the more than 1,500 solar panels on the roof. Very sustainable, and it also means a very friendly energy bill at the end of the year. If people come grocery shopping by electric bicycle, they can charge their bike at the charger in front of the store. The stock is delivered by electric lorries, too.
Doing a great job
This isn’t the only store where Lidl is showing its green side; they’re also doing a great job in other branches . They combat food waste by offering products at reduced prices, so less has to be thrown away. They use less plastic, including by no longer packaging apples in plastic bags. The chilled section contains only sustainably sourced fish, the milk comes from pasture-raised cows, and the chicken is definitely not a battery chicken.
