Schwarz Group: Supplier Decarbonisation a NonāNegotiable
The companies of Schwarz Group is an international leader in the retail industry with some 14,200 stores and 595,000 employees. It is made up of three retail divisions, LD Stiftung and Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG (which trade stores under the Lidl brand) and Kaufland.
It has reached a milestone as it looks to make its value chain more sustainable. As the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated the net zero target by 2050 and also the long-term climate targets of the trade group.
This officially confirms the alignment of the jointly adopted climate strategy of the companies of Schwarz Group with the latest scientific findings. After joining the SBTi in 2020, the companies of Schwarz Group made a joint commitment in 2024 to reduce all greenhouse gases produced along the entire value chain to net zero by 2050 at the latest.
Independent validation places Schwarz among global climate leaders
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has independently validated that Schwarz Group companies are pursuing effective climate action strategies. This validation places the retail group amongst over 10,000 companies globally whose climate targets have received SBTi approval ā a milestone announced today by the voluntary initiative, which operates under the CDP, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute and WWF.
Florian SchĆ¼tze, Member of the Executive Board, Corporate Responsibility at Schwarz Corporate Affairs, says: "In times of political volatility and controversial discourse on the relevance of the green transformation, climate protection must not become a pawn. Committed action is becoming the key indicator of competitiveness and resilience right now.
All sustainability, net zero and sustainable procurement leaders should attend:
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22
Co-located with Sustainability LIVE, these events brings together CPOs, CSCO, CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.
Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.
"For us, sustainable management is the strategic answer to the energy and resource issues of our time and is crucial for safeguarding our business models in the long term. The success of our climate strategy is based on strong, trusting partnerships along the entire value chain ā because climate action is not a single discipline."
Schwarz Group companies are using its market position to drive broader change: they've already engaged more than 1,000 supply chain partners to establish SBTi-aligned climate goals by the end of 2026.
Comprehensive targets tackle Scope 3 emissions challenge
Operating as an integrated ecosystem spanning production, retail, recycling and digitalisation, Schwarz Group companies have adopted a comprehensive, cross-divisional climate strategy with ambitious SBTi-validated targets on its path to net zero.
By 2050, they aim to cut operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 90% from 2019 levels. For Scope 3, targets include a 72% reduction in forestry, land and agricultural emissions (FLAG), plus a 90% reduction in energy, industrial processes (E&I) and fuel-related emissions by 2050 from 2022 baselines.
The SBTi validated short-term targets through 2030 and 2034 in spring 2025, followed by long-term target validation in autumn of that year.
Approximately 98% of Schwarz Group's COā emissions occur within its upstream and downstream value chain (Scope 3). Despite the inherent difficulties ā limited direct control, complex supply networks and data gaps ā the companies recognise this as a critical opportunity for climate action.
Its approach centres on strategic partnerships, investments in emerging technologies and robust data infrastructure to drive supply chain emissions reductions and transform food and agriculture systems.
Through sustainable and innovative product development, Lidl, Kaufland and Schwarz Produktion are demonstrating that climate-friendly nutrition is a viable option.
Kaufland and Lidl Germany are highlighting initiatives that make climate-conscious eating accessible, affordable and appealing ā from expanding regional product lines to achieving price parity for plant-based alternatives.
