The Lion's Footprint

With our The Lion’s Footprint action plan, we are committed to the climate. We have launched various initiatives to reduce our ecological footprint. To achieve this, we focus on 3 major pillars: less plastic, less CO2 and less (food) waste. Discover the changes we have already implemented.

 

MORE SUSTAINABLE EVERY DAY

Building a more responsible future together is our mission. Thanks to many concrete actions and committed projects, Delhaize positions itself as a key player in the ecological transition.

A LEADER IN BETTER CHOICES, ACCORDING TO SCIENSANO

In 2025, Delhaize was recognized as a leader in health and sustainability by Sciensano (the federal public health institute) in its BIA study (Business Impact Assessments).

Our results speak for themselves:

  • 65% health score
  • 56% of our assortment displays a Nutri-Score A or B
  • 90/100 for our sustainability strategy
  • 83/100 for packaging
  • 72/100 for fighting waste
  • 100/100 for our ecological footprint reduction policy

OUR INITIATIVES

  • Introduction of the Nutri-Score as early as 2018
  • Less salt and sugar, but always great taste: 1,500 products improved every year
  • Goodcook: workshops on healthy eating in schools

AND MANY OTHER GREAT PROJECTS ...

  • Local support: collaboration with farmers for more sustainable products
  • Less waste: recycled and recyclable packaging, reuse of crates/pallets
  • CO₂ reduction: through our Climate Hub, our suppliers measure and reduce their footprint
  • More plant-based: a wide plant-based offer for a more sustainable everyday life
  • Nothing goes to waste: our fruit and vegetable waste becomes animal feed
  • Reusable packaging: testing with mushroom producers
  • Less waste: products close to their expiry date are sold at a reduced price
  • Rustik breads: sustainable wheat and natural sourdough for more responsible bread

THE GOAL

Always improving! Reduce our CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2018.

MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Mono-material is the key: one single material = truly recyclable packaging.

Product Sustainable action Positive impact

Milk packs

Plastic handle removed 16 tonnes of plastic saved/year
Sauce sachets:  100% mono-material packaging 3 tonnes of waste avoided/year
Deli meats Packaging with 2 separate compartments 99 tonnes of food waste avoided/year

 

Even if we reduce packaging as much as possible, food waste has an even greater environmental impact. Every small action counts.

 

LESS PLASTIC. LESS CO2. LESS WASTE.
- THE LION'S FOOTPRINT -

 Food waste prevention plan 

LESS WASTE, OF COURSE!

We looooove the delicious products you’ll find in my Delhaize store. That’s why we offer you 3 clever techniques to make the most of any leftovers in your fridge.

RED CABBAGE DIP

 A purple-colored dip? Easy to make with leftover red cabbage (from the recipe for red cabbage pickles) and a basic ingredient like plant-based cheese or legumes.

BEETROOT PAN TOASTS

Hello beetroot toasts! Especially if you love the sweet flavor of fresh or frozen beetroot... Perfect for lunch or as a snack.

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CRANBERRY APÉRO CUPS

Trend alert: savory cupcakes! Easy to make at home, especially if you have leftovers in the fridge. Guaranteed delight with comforting pancetta and cranberry cupcakes, but feel free to create your own recipe…

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More #lesswaste tips and recipes here!

LESS WASTE: A DAILY COMMITMENT AT DELHAIZE

At Delhaize, we firmly believe that every action counts for a more sustainable future. With this in mind, we are committed to promoting practices that reduce food waste, encourage recycling and support more responsible consumption.

SALMON, APPLE & DILL SPREAD

Do you have leftover oily fish? Don’t throw it away! Turn it into a delicious homemade spread with salmon, a Granny Smith apple and dill. A simple and tasty way to avoid food waste. Find the full recipe on our website and discover more anti-waste tips.

PRIORITY TO ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

Our efforts don’t stop at reducing food waste. We also focus on reducing plastic packaging to minimize our environmental impact:

  • -25% plastic packaging (compared to 2019)
  • -5% virgin plastic packaging (compared to 2021)
  • 50% of beverages in rPET bottles (recycled plastic)
  • 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025

We are actively working to make our packaging more eco-friendly. Here are a few concrete examples:

  • Our blueberries are now packaged in a tray with plastic film instead of a bucket, reducing plastic use by 32 tonnes per year.
  • Our cheeses now use thinner plastic packaging, reducing our plastic usage by 86 tonnes per year.
  • Our green beans are now packaged in bags instead of trays with plastic film, saving 7.5 tonnes of plastic per year.

Every small action counts, and together we can make a big difference. To discover more practical tips and initiatives to reduce waste, visit our website. Let’s commit together to a greener planet and a healthier future! #LessWaste

PANTRY

THE BIG SUMMER CLEAN-UP!

With the arrival of sunny days comes the desire to refresh your home. Why not start with your kitchen cupboards? It’s the perfect opportunity to sort, store properly, and organize wisely. Besides avoiding food waste, a well-ordered pantry makes cooking more enjoyable. What better way to kick off summer?

CHECK YOUR STOCK

Canned goods, spices, pasta, nuts, oils… After hibernating for months (or even years), it’s time to check the condition of your products and throw out anything that’s no longer good. The next step? Optimize your storage to avoid unpleasant surprises and… the trash.

4 Steps to Attack

  1. EMPTY Open your cupboards (and drawers) and take everything out. Yes, everything: even that Christmas Tea box you received at Christmas and never opened.
  2. CLEAN Vacuum the shelves and drawer bottoms, then wipe with soapy water. For stubborn stains, sprinkle baking soda and wipe with a damp cloth.
  3. SORT Assess each product: expiration date, general condition… Anything expired or suspicious (a bulging can), throw it away. For the rest, use your senses and check appearance, texture, and smell. When in doubt: taste it.
  4. STORE Transfer dry goods into jars and/or stackable transparent containers, preferably airtight (to avoid moisture). Stick a label with the name and date. Group certain foods (spices, oils) in small baskets. Then arrange by category: cereals with cereals, nuts with nuts. Place frequently used items within easy reach, and the rest at the back or top.

    And there you go: your storage not only looks good, but also helps keep track of your stock.

Good to know:

Dry foods don’t really expire, but over time, their nutritional value and taste can be affected.

OUR NEARLY ZERO WASTE TIPS

Back to school is here, and it’s also the perfect time to rethink your lunch and snack habits. Delhaize is here to help with simple tips to reduce waste while delighting the whole family:

  1. Go homemade: Preparing your meals (sandwiches, wraps, salads) yourself is a great way to say goodbye to unnecessary packaging and save money at the same time.
  2. Choose reusable alternatives: Replace plastic wrap and aluminum foil with sustainable solutions like bottles, lunch boxes, cloth bags, or beeswax wraps.
  3. Reduce food waste: Plan your meals to avoid leftovers, reuse scraps, and bring only what you need. Less waste, more flavor!
  4. Sort your waste smartly: Even with the best intentions, some waste is unavoidable. Make sure to sort carefully, and compost if possible.

We are committed to fighting food waste. Discover our "No Gaspi" corner in-store and enjoy our soups and smoothies made with unsold fruits and vegetables. Together, let’s adopt simple gestures for a more sustainable future!

#lesswaste tips & recipes

Want to waste less food? It’s easy with our #lesswaste tips and recipes. Clever, delicious, and sustainable. Did you know you can make tasty dishes with lemon zest, the green leaves of leeks, or carrot tops? Yum!

Already 3,221.57 tonnes of plastic saved, plus 80,413.31 tonnes of CO2 and 6,252 tonnes of food waste avoided.