Lidl goes 100% sustainable with bananas

Lidl will only sell bananas that are sourced from farms that are either Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade-certified, the German discount retailer has announced.


The supermarket is in the process of switching adjusting its supplier network so that all of its bananas come from 100% sustainable sources. By the end of 2016, the majority of Lidl’s banana supply (88%) will come from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, with the remaining bananas coming from Fairtrade Foundation farms.

Lidl follows hot on the heels of rival retailer Asda, which made a public commitment to source 100% sustainable bananas last November.

Lidl UK’s head of fresh produce Jon Covey said: “We are extremely pleased to make this commitment to sourcing our bananas from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and see this as a positive step for all involved – from the producer to our customers. 

“We fully recognise and respect the work of the Rainforest Alliance in promoting the wellbeing of workers and the conservation of natural resources. We are totally committed to ensuring fairness throughout our supply chains.”

Sustainable seafood

This announcement follows Lidl’s decision to source 100% Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee for its Deluxe range, with plans to certify the entire range of coffee products to either Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade by 2017.

Late last year, Lidl became the first British retailer to stock Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified lobester, and last week the group was listed among the nation’s top retailers for MSC sustainable seafood.

Earlier today (2 February), edie reported that Asda is using money it has generated from the carrier bag charge to fund a ground-breaking new scheme in Scotland which aims to increase the availability of supermarket products that have a positive social or environmental impact.

Luke Nicholls

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