Lidl Latvia is preparing for the opening of its stores in Latvia by ensuring they are built and managed on a sustainable basis. Lidl Latvia has successfully certified 15 units with EDGE, including stores and a distribution centre.
| Project Name | Lidl Latvia Portfolio |
| Location | 15 locations across Cyprus |
| Building Type | Retail and warehouse |
| Buildings Certified | 15 buildings |
| Total Floor Area Certified | 79,019 m² |
| Certification Date | February 2021 |
| Duration of Certification | 7 months from registration to completion |
Project Overview
In preparation for the opening of its stores and a distribution centre, Lidl Latvia is committed to ensuring they are built and operated in the most sustainable way possible. Lidl Latvia has gained certification under EDGE at 15 locations, with 14 store outlets and a distribution warehouse. The Baltics region is an area of growth for Lidl, and the warehouse will also serve as a logistics hub for neighbouring Estonia.
Each building achieved an EDGE score of at least +20% better energy performance over 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 building regulations, and takes into account climate conditions for the Baltic region.
In general terms, adopting the EDGE standard means a typical store will reduce its carbon footprint, with energy savings of around 100 MWh/year, reduced water consumption of around 3,000m3 annually, and a saving of over 70 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The distribution centre is also an exemplar of sustainable design. It is powered by electricity from 100% reusable energy sources, 30 different types of waste will be sorted on-site and recycled heat is harvested as a by-product from the freezer rooms. Taken together, this means that Lidl Latvia’s operation will be highly resource efficient, with a reduced carbon footprint.
Why EDGE?
EDGE was chosen to drive improvements in the sustainability performance of Lidl Latvia’s stores and warehouse. It provides a framework to quantify the environmental and financial implications of different design and refurbishment options for the improvement of existing stores. It sets as standard for the performance of future stores and warehouses that Lidl Latvia will build.
EDGE is well suited to the retail environment, whether that is to assess and improve sustainability in a store’s customer sales areas, storage or logistics (including the cooling, refrigeration and ventilation that is required) or for staff and office areas.
Resource efficiency and environment friendly building solutions has a significant importance for us in project development and construction. We, at Lidl Latvija prove it in our daily work. We are proud that our efforts have been accomplished by the worldwide known EDGE certificate, awarded to Lidl Latvija stores and regional logistics centre in Riga.
Arūnas Dzikas, Board Member and Head of Central Services at Lidl Latvija
What’s Next?
Lidl Latvia plan to use EDGE for all future developments and manage and operate existing stores to EDGE standards, upgrading and improving as and when necessary to maintain sustainability standards. In future, Lidl Latvia will use the new version of EDGE, version 3, which puts an even greater emphasis on reducing the embodied carbon in new developments.
As Lidl begin to open stores in Latvia, they will be monitoring energy and water consumption, as well as gaining feedback from staff and customers. This will feed into future improvements and thinking for the sustainable operation and design of their outlets.
