Lidl Danmark certified its portfolio of 119 retail stores and warehouses with EDGE in December 2020. The retailer is commited to sustainability and bringing value to its customers. Green building certification is a commitment to measure the impact of its sustainability efforts and verify the results.

Project Overview

Lidl opened its first 13 stores in Denmark in 2005, with a store concept based on a flexible, adaptable approach. The goal was to develop retail spaces that provide the right solution for the local area, whether that in a dense urban centre, suburbs or rural area. They have three basic store concepts in Denmark, with locations ranging from standalone units to stores that are part of shopping malls.  

Across Denmark, Lidl wishes to ensure that its store portfolio is built and managed in the most sustainable way possible. The 119 stores certified under EDGE include both new and existing developments. The EDGE certified portfolio also includes two warehouse sites of 31,000m² in Kolding in the south of Denmark and 45,000m² in Køge, 40 km south of Copenhagen .

Every store achieved the EDGE baseline score of at least +20% better energy performance over local baseline, with some assets achieving +30% better energy performance. The local baseline is based on local Danish building regulations, as well as climatic conditions and best practices.

Why EDGE?

Lidl Danmark began to evaluate EDGE certification in 2019. The retailer wanted an accessible green building system that would evaluate the sustainability performance of each asset in its portfolio on a cost-effective basis. Lidl also wanted to set targets for sustainability performance and future improvement according to international best practice.

EDGE’s clear focus on water, energy and materials made it the ideal choice for a retailer wishing to manage and improve existing outlets and set parameters for new development. The granularity of the EDGE App provides the level of detail for a responsible retailer to understand resource efficiency in all areas of retail operation – whether that be the store’s overall energy and water consumption, or for individual areas of operation such as cooling and freezing units, staff welfare areas, storage or sales areas.

According to figures from the Danish Green Building Council, with the EDGE certification, Lidl Danmark is now the largest owner of green buildings in Denmark. The EDGE certificate for each individual store or warehouse will be displayed at each of the 119 locations.

“EDGE has proven itself to be an extremely useful and reliable tool to apply to the whole of our store portfolio. Buildings and their operation are areas where we are committed to operating in an environmentally sound manner. We have been able to get all our stores and warehouses EDGE-certified, a certification that proves that we build according to internationally recognised sustainability standards. We are happy to be the largest owner of green buildings in Denmark, but take this as a starting point to progressively improve our stores for the benefit of our customers, our staff and for the planet.”

Mads T. Nielsen, Chief Property Management Officer, Lidl Danmark

What’s Next?

The use of EDGE helped Lidl Danmark confirm the positive and socially responsible approach they have adopted in recent years, and also helped set a standard for the retail design and operation which can ultimately lead to net zero carbon. The company is committed to working progressively in a step-by-step approach for all their property assets across Denmark.

Lidl Danmark has an ambitious new build programme which will add around 10 new stores each year to the portfolio, all of which will be designed and constructed in line with EDGE standards. The company is also actively refurbishing older stores within its portfolio, making progressive improvements to energy, water and materials in accordance with EDGE.