Lidl Targets 70% Food Waste Reduction During Food Waste Action Week

How Lidl, Food Waste Action Week And Surplus Food Apps Are Helping Reduce Waste In The UK

Food waste is a much bigger problem than many people realise. Across the UK, millions of tonnes of perfectly edible food are thrown away every year, often ending up in landfill despite still being safe to eat.

Supermarkets, charities and environmental groups have spent years trying to reduce how much food is wasted across the supply chain. Lidl has now announced a new step in that direction, setting a target to reduce its food waste by 70% by 2030.

The announcement comes at the start of Food Waste Action Week, a national campaign that encourages businesses and households to rethink how food is used and reduce waste wherever possible.

Lidl says it has already exceeded its previous goal of reducing food waste by 40% by the end of its 2025 financial year, compared with a 2016 baseline. Having reached that milestone ahead of schedule, the retailer has now raised its ambitions and introduced new trials aimed at redistributing even more surplus food within local communities.

Lidl’s New Food Waste Target Explained

Lidl’s updated goal will see the supermarket attempt to reduce food waste by 70% by the end of its 2030 financial year, again measured against its 2016 baseline.

To support that target, Lidl is expanding several initiatives designed to prevent food from being wasted in the first place and to ensure edible food reaches people who can use it.

One of the most significant changes is a new trial with the charity platform Neighbourly, called Surplus Saviours.

The scheme will launch in the Midlands later this year and will allow registered individuals, including charity volunteers and members of the public, to collect unsold surplus food from Lidl stores.

This builds on Lidl’s existing partnerships with local charities but widens the number of people who can help redistribute food locally. Collection times will also be extended later into the evening, allowing access to fresh and chilled items that are approaching their use-by date.

Lidl expects the trial could redistribute more than 5,000 tonnes of food that might otherwise have gone to waste.

The supermarket is also exploring ways to deal with food that cannot be donated. In the Peterborough area, Lidl is trialling a scheme that converts inedible bakery products, such as unsold bread or pastries, into animal feed rather than sending them to landfill.

How Lidl Has Already Reduced Food Waste

The new target builds on several changes Lidl has already introduced across its stores.

One of the biggest improvements has come from the in-store bakery. By adjusting production levels throughout the day so they better match customer demand, Lidl says bakery waste fell by around 30% last year.

Customers also help prevent waste through pricing incentives. Using the Lidl Plus app, shoppers can receive 20% off bakery items after 7pm, helping sell products that might otherwise remain unsold.

Another long-running initiative is Lidl’s Feed It Back scheme, launched in partnership with Neighbourly in 2016.

Through this programme, surplus food is donated to local charities and community groups rather than being thrown away. Lidl says the scheme has already redistributed the equivalent of 50 million meals across the UK.

Every Lidl store nationwide is connected to local good causes that can collect suitable surplus food.

What Is Food Waste Action Week?

Food Waste Action Week is an annual campaign organised by the environmental charity WRAP.

The campaign focuses on reducing food waste across the entire food system, from farms and supermarkets to restaurants and households.

While supermarkets often attract attention when food waste is discussed, WRAP’s research shows that a large share of food waste actually happens at home.

Food is frequently thrown away because people buy too much, misunderstand date labels or forget about ingredients already sitting in the fridge.

Food Waste Action Week encourages practical steps such as planning meals, understanding food labelling and using leftovers more effectively.

For households, reducing food waste can also make a noticeable difference to grocery bills.

How Apps Like Olio And Too Good To Go Help Reduce Waste

Alongside supermarket initiatives, technology platforms are increasingly helping redistribute surplus food.

Two of the best known are Olio and Too Good To Go.

Olio

Olio works as a community sharing platform. Individuals and businesses can list food they no longer need, and nearby users can request to collect it for free.

Many supermarkets partner with Olio volunteers who collect surplus food and redistribute it through the app.

This means households can sometimes collect items such as bread, vegetables or packaged groceries that would otherwise have been thrown away. >> Read our blog post about Olio

Too Good To Go

Too Good To Go operates slightly differently. Businesses sell surplus food in discounted “Magic Bags”, which customers purchase through the app and collect later.

The contents vary each time but typically include items that were unsold at the end of the day. Bakeries, supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants all use the platform, making it a useful way for customers to pick up food cheaply while preventing waste. >> Read our blog post about Too Good To Go

Why Reducing Food Waste Matters

Food waste has environmental, financial and social consequences.

When food ends up in landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. At the same time, large amounts of water, energy and labour are used to grow and transport food that ultimately goes uneaten.

Reducing food waste helps cut these emissions and ensures resources are used more efficiently.

There is also a community benefit. Redistributing surplus food means that food which is still perfectly edible can reach charities, community groups and households rather than being discarded.

How Households Can Reduce Food Waste And Save Money

While supermarkets are working to reduce waste, much of it still happens in our own kitchens.

Simple changes can help households waste less food while also stretching grocery budgets further.

Planning meals before shopping can prevent duplicate purchases and reduce the chance of food being forgotten in the fridge. Checking cupboards before going to the supermarket can also avoid buying items you already have.

Understanding food date labels can make a difference as well. A “use by” date relates to food safety, particularly for fresh products like meat or dairy. A “best before” date relates to quality, which means many foods are still perfectly safe to eat afterwards.

Freezing food before it spoils is another useful habit. Bread, cooked meals, meat and vegetables can all be frozen to extend their life.

Apps like Olio and Too Good To Go can also help households access surplus food that might otherwise have been thrown away.

Small changes like these can help reduce both food waste and grocery spending over time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Waste Action Week And Surplus Food Schemes

What is Food Waste Action Week?

Food Waste Action Week is a UK campaign organised by WRAP to raise awareness about food waste and encourage households and businesses to reduce how much food is thrown away. The campaign highlights practical ways to waste less food and use ingredients more efficiently.

How much food is wasted in the UK?

Millions of tonnes of food are wasted across the UK every year, and a large proportion of this waste comes from households rather than supermarkets. Much of the food thrown away could still have been eaten.

What happens to unsold supermarket food?

Many supermarkets donate surplus food to charities, food banks and community groups. Others redistribute it through organisations that specialise in food redistribution. Food that cannot be safely donated may be used for animal feed or processed through specialist recycling systems.

What is Lidl’s Feed It Back scheme?

Feed It Back is Lidl’s programme for redistributing surplus food through partnerships with charities using the Neighbourly platform. Since launching in 2016, the scheme has helped redistribute the equivalent of millions of meals across the UK.

How does the Olio app work?

Olio allows people and businesses to give away surplus food to others nearby. Users list food they no longer need and neighbours can collect it for free.

What is Too Good To Go?

Too Good To Go is an app that allows businesses to sell surplus food at a reduced price through “Magic Bags” which customers collect from participating shops.

Why is food waste bad for the environment?

Food waste produces greenhouse gases when it decomposes in landfill. Producing food also requires land, water and energy, so wasting food means wasting those resources as well.