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Lidl top for climate progress – but gaps remain in the retail sector

Lidl is “setting the pace” in Europe's transition towards sustainable food systems. How did other European supermarkets score, according to Superlist Environment Europe 2026?

Dutch think tank Questionmark Foundation published its Superlist Environment Europe 2026 report last month, benchmarking European supermarkets on their climate plans against goals outlined in The Paris Agreement, the United Nation's global treaty on climate change. The report looked at two key areas: near-term climate action and efforts to promote plant-rich diets.

While there were some positives, it found that wide gaps remain between ambition and action on climate plans within the European food and beverage retail sector, according to an international benchmark report.

Compiled in collaboration with non-profit WWF Netherlands, international climate advocacy group Madre Brava and German non-profit ProVeg International, the report covered 27 major supermarkets across eight countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The supermarket chains covered were: Albert Heijn, Aldi Nord, Aldi Süd, Asda, Biedronka, Carrefour, Coop, Coop Group, Denner, Dino, Edeka, E.Leclerc, ICA, Intermarché, Jumbo, Kaufland, Lidl, Mercadona, Migros, Rewe, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Willys/Hemköp.

Roadmaps, emissions and protein transitions

Report findings showed seven of the 27 supermarkets had publicly disclosed detailed roadmaps to reduce emissions in the near term, though more clarity was needed though to verify whether the targets fully aligned with the Paris Agreement's ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Five supermarkets had reduced total emissions since they began reporting, though the emissions of many other European supermarkets continued to rise, with no clear decline. And two-thirds of supermarkets acknowledged their role in transitioning towards more plant-rich diets, with eight supermarkets publishing a protein target in line with the Planetary Health Diet, but nine supermarkets made no mention of such action.

Overall, results indicated that supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and particularly Lidl throughout Europe were “setting the pace” in Europe's transition towards sustainable food systems.

“Lidl's success in Europe is evident, as it ranks high compared to its local competitors in all countries where the supermarket chain is assessed,” Questionmark said. “The lower-ranked supermarkets are falling behind because they show little ambition in climate plans and make little to no effort to rebalance protein sales.”

The groups behind the report said European supermarkets had to improve climate plan reporting and action. Specifically, Scope 3 targets had to be set on emissions for 2035; clear roadmaps had to be developed and shared publicly; and actions had to be prioritised to create short-term impact, like rebalancing protein sales, reorganising transport, and reducing product packaging.

European supermarkets have “pivotal role to play”

Charlotte Linnebank, general director at Questionmark, described the report as a “first-of-its-kind” to benchmark climate progress being made across the European retail sector.

“Supermarkets hold tremendous influence over what ends up on our plates and, ultimately, the health of our planet,” Linnebank said. “With Superlist, we at Questionmark want to help ensure that this influence is used for good: by measuring, comparing and motivating supermarkets to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and plant-rich food system.”

Corné van Dooren, senior advisor for sustainable diets at WWF Netherlands, added: “Nature and climate are under severe pressure, and our current food system is one of the biggest drivers of crossing planetary boundaries. European supermarkets have a pivotal role to play: they are central actors in food chains and key enablers of the sustainability transition.”

Aligning to the Planetary Health Diet

According to the report, rebalancing protein sales to align with the Planetary Health Diet recommendations – a plant-rich flexitarian diet – was a “key lever” when working to reduce indirect Scope 3 emissions and creating short-term impact.

“Without supermarket ambition and transparency on plant-rich diets, a vital piece of the roadmap towards mitigating the worst impacts of climate change is missing,” said Joanna Trewern, director of partnerships and institutional engagement at ProVeg International.

Supermarkets, Trewen said, held the key to “reshaping food environments and consumer norms” to reflect a future better for people, animals and planet.

Nico Muzi, co-founder and chief programme officer at Madre Brava, added: “In Europe, we need to eat more fruit, vegetables and legumes, and less meat, cheese and animal fats. So says the Planetary Health Diet, the latest global scientific consensus on healthy and sustainable diets.

“Supermarkets largely determine what food is produced and how, so they have both the responsibility and power to make the healthy and sustainable food – in short, good food – the easiest choice for consumers.”