Leading German supermarkets—including Aldi Nord and Süd, Edeka, Kaufland, Lidl, and Rewe—recently met in Berlin to discuss the Superlist Environment study assessing their sustainability performance. While concrete commitments remain limited, there was broad agreement on the urgent need for change.
“Retailers know their gatekeeper role in the supply chain and the responsibility it entails.”
At the Next Steps to a More Sustainable Retail Sector symposium, retailers acknowledged key areas requiring immediate focus. Some are commissioning new studies; others are learning from international peers. Promoting pulses and targeting flexitarian consumers were common themes.
Dirk Liebenberg, Head of Corporate Engagement at ProVeg, stressed: “Retailers know their gatekeeper role in the supply chain and the responsibility it entails. The study highlighted the crucial need for standardized measurement of the plant-to-animal protein ratio in supermarket offerings.”
Protein transition is most cost-effective climate strategy
Complementing these insights, a new analysis by Quantis and Madre Brava outlines how German food retailers can meet emissions targets cost-effectively. Of the strategies evaluated—plant-rich diets, sustainable agriculture, and reducing food loss—the greatest impact and financial savings come from shifting protein offerings toward plant-based alternatives.
A realistic shift of 30% of meat and milk sales to plant-based products by 2030 could reduce emissions by 16 million tonnes CO2-equivalent while saving €2.5 billion. This protein transition also aligns with the German Nutrition Society’s dietary guidelines and evolving consumer trends.
Experts at the symposium emphasized discrepancies between retail portion sizes and nutrition guidelines, the prevalence of meat advertising, and retailers’ influential role in consumer choices. Lidl leads sustainability rankings, yet no retailer excels sufficiently to pause progress.
Liebenberg called for sustained efforts across retailers, policymakers, and NGOs: “Now is the time to keep pushing forward.”
Aligning with policy and industry standards
The Superlist Environment study, produced with ProVeg, Albert Schweitzer Foundation, Madre Brava, and PAN, calls for a unified approach to measuring protein ratios. Plans are underway to extend this research across Europe.
The German government’s coalition agreement supports an EU protein strategy, domestic protein crop production, and alternative protein development. ProVeg will monitor progress closely.
The Quantis-Madre Brava report urges retailers to develop climate transition plans aligned with the EU’s CSRD and SBTi frameworks, emphasizing Scope 3 emissions from supply chains. Setting clear protein targets and enabling consumer shifts through pricing and product placement are key.
While sustainable agriculture and food loss reduction contribute, protein rebalancing offers the fastest, most cost-effective path to emission reduction and cost savings.
