As a responsible and socially conscious retailer, Lidl Cyprus has certified all of its stores with EDGE. The main goal of the company is to protect the environment by translating environment concerns into best practices and applying them to the entire spectrum of corporate activities.

Project Overview

Lidl Cyprus has recently completed the certification of 17 stores using EDGE, ensuring the consumption of energy, water and embodied energy in materials in these buildings is minimised. These are the first EDGE-certified buildings in Cyprus, marking the company’s leadership in sustainability and commitment to corporate responsibility.

For Lidl Cyprus, the sustainable development and management of its store network are a critical component of the business strategy. To ensure all of the company’s stores meet a high standard of sustainability, the company implemented energy management procedures to transparently show all energy flows in the company. From the data collected, as well as the use of the EDGE App, Lidl Cyprus was able to identify opportunities for improvement to make all of its stores as resource-efficient as possible.

The stores are situated throughout the capital Nicosia, in Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and elsewhere across Cyprus. Each building achieved an EDGE score of at least +20% better energy performance over the local baseline (the starting point for EDGE certification), with some buildings achieving +30% better energy performance. The local baseline EDGE uses is based on local Cypriot building regulations, and takes into account climate conditions for the Mediterranean. That means that all of Lidl Cyprus’ stores are at least 20% more efficient than the current building regulations, even though some were built more than five years ago.

In general terms, this means a typical store will reduce its carbon footprint, with energy savings of around 80-100 MWh/year, reduced water consumption of around 3,000m³ annually, and a saving of over 40 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Lidl Cyprus was able to achieve these savings by implementing a variety of resource-efficiency measures, from ensuring the design of the buildings maximised efficiency savings such as window-to-wall ratio and E-coated glass, to aerators and demand-controlled ventillation.

Why EDGE?

EDGE provides a framework for Lidl Cyprus to manage the operation of its existing stores and develop new sites in the most environmentally responsible and sustainable way.

EDGE helps quantify the environmental and financial implications of different design and refurbishment options for the retail environment. It enables the company to put together a store upgrade programme that meets the needs of its customers and staff, whilst ensuring low carbon targets are met.

EDGE also provides the advantage of an internationally recognised and easy to understand green building standard, that is adapted to conditions in Cyprus. It provides a platform to work towards net zero ambitions in the future.

EDGE helps us understand the performance profile of our stores and identifies the ways in which we can upgrade our buildings to reduce our carbon footprint. It has an easy-to-use interface, one that will help us communicate carbon savings and other efficiencies to all our staff and customers.

Spyros Kondylis, Regional Director, Lidl Cyprus

What’s Next?

Whilst the global pandemic has impacted the retail sector in Cyprus and around the world, the company plans to continue invest in highly energy efficient and sustainable new stores, increasing its presence across the island. These stores will be built according to EDGE standards, and designed to achieve the lowest possible carbon footprint, whilst at the same time providing a high quality retail environment.

Lidl Cyprus will employ the recently introduced EDGE version 3.0, which includes expanded section of climate data and more detailed attention to embodied carbon, ensuring new development is undertaken in the most sustainable way possible. Existing stores will continue to be managed in a sustainable way. With the help of EDGE, Lidl Cyprus will embody sustainability into their retail offering throughout Cyprus.