Vienna, 27 October 2022 – Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS assessed and scored 38 leading supermarkets (and not so ‘super’ ones) in DACH countries and the UK with regards to their meat reduction goals as part of its ‘Atlas Challenge’ ranking earlier this year. Now, the latest summary report was published on 27 October, detailing the likes of Lidl, Aldi, Spar and others. While some food retailers have already expanded their plant-based product range, no one has yet committed to a binding meat and dairy reduction.

Between a quarter and a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions results from food and agriculture – the majority from the livestock sector alone. FOUR PAWS calls once more for an overall reduction of farmed animals, a transition to more plant-based proteins and an end to factory farming.

Worldwide, meat and dairy production provides just 18 per cent¹ of calories consumed but uses 83 per cent of global farmland. In addition, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from animal agriculture are twice² those from plant-based diets. Food retailers need to acknowledge their strong influence on the overproduction of animal products and set clear reduction strategies, which they still lack.

38 food retailers and zero commitment towards binding meat reduction goals

The main findings of the 38 assessed supermarket chains are sobering. None secured a ‘Very Good’ rank, however, Lidl (DE) came out on top with Lidl (AT) coming in second within the ‘Good’ category. Although 50 per cent of the companies have plans to increase their plant-based offerings in the future, none of them have a concrete meat or dairy reduction strategy in place. In addition, most retailers do not actively support a ban of cheap meat promotion.

Only a few, such as Lidl (DE), Penny (DE) and Billa (AT), consider true cost-pricing, which, among other things, also takes into account the costs on the environment.

Kaufland (DE), Coop (CH) and Migros (CH) are the only supermarkets who claimed to sell 50 per cent or less meat from factory farming. While it is encouraging that the majority (73%) of the German companies participated in the questionnaire, only two out of ten UK supermarkets took part. Austrian and Swiss food retailers came out half/half when it came to participation.

Here you can find the full report.

Background & Methodology

The ‘Atlas Challenge’ ranking depicts the level of effort and performance of some of the leading supermarkets in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom on their meat reduction strategies and sustainable plant-based nutrition initiatives. This was done by research conducted via publicly available information online, as well as by sending out a questionnaire for their input between January-June 2022. All companies that did not  respond as well as Globus (DE), Marktkauf (DE), Penny (AT), Adeg (AT), MPreis (AT), Spar (CH), Denner (CH), Sainsbury’s (UK) and Waitrose (UK), who declined to participate, were evaluated solely via research done by FOUR PAWS based on publicly available information online. Companies were evaluated in four categories – CSR reports, marketing strategies, product portfolio and on their progress and commitment based on a grading system - Low (0-25%), Average (26-50%), Good (51-75%) and Very Good (76-100%).

FOUR PAWS will be present at the upcoming COP27 Climate Change Conference in Egypt in November 2022, highlighting the connection between factory farming and climate change to further address the many shortcomings the food industry must still overcome to efficiently contribute to worldwide animal and climate protection goals.