Lidl Switzerland has teamed up with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology to increase the sustainability and energy efficiency of its stores.
Since 2014, the retailer has been continuously optimising operations across its store network, by promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing CO2 emissions.
From this year, it plans to build new branches based on an innovative energy concept, “that are future-oriented and sustainable in terms of building materials, energy consumption and technology," according to chief real estate officer, Reto Ruch.
Energy Consumption
Empa's Urban Energy Systems lab will support Lidl Switzerland in this analysis. Together with the Empa spin-off Sympheny, the researchers will investigate the energy consumption at existing Lidl locations and the interaction of various systems such as heating, ventilation and cooling, refrigerators and freezers, photovoltaic systems and e-charging stations.
The findings will serve as the basis for optimisation measures and for the concept of future stores. The approximately 150 Lidl Switzerland stores together consume as much energy as a medium-sized Swiss city, so significant energy can be saved by using state-of-the-art technologies.
Last year, Lidl Switzerland entered into a partnership with Empa to support the development of a new type of gas-powered fuel facility.
By the end of 2022, the plan is to use this fuel to power selected trucks in its fleet, with the long-term goal to deliver goods to all its stores without the use of fossil fuels.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
