Lidl is investing no less than 70 million euros in the construction of the most sustainable distribution centre in the Netherlands. In doing so, it knocks Tesla off its sustainable throne.
The distribution centre in Waddinxveen will cover some 50,000 square metres and will be fully lit with LED lights. Thanks to 4,000 solar panels on the roof, the building should be able to be self-sufficient on a sunny day. Thanks to all these measures, Lidl will receive the Breeam certificate 'Outstanding', the highest attainable certification.
Waste heat from refrigeration
But it does not stop at solar panels and LED lighting. The most striking measure is the omission of a gas connection. To heat the distribution hall and offices, Lidl uses residual heat from its refrigeration system. The supermarket chain currently does the same at its distribution centre in Heerenveen. "There we save €100,000 a year on energy bills," Marcel Ganzeboom, head of building affairs at Lidl Netherlands told Duurzaam Gebouwd.
Collecting rainwater
Lidl also collects rainwater for, among other things, the irrigation of adjacent agricultural greenhouses. Besides all its own sustainable activities and systems, the suppliers of Lidl's new distribution centre must also use sustainable and responsible materials that are recyclable. The new distribution centre will open in January 2017.
Tesla
Thanks to these measures, Lidl achieves a Breaam score of 91.38 per cent. Earlier, Tesla was in first place with a score of 91.18 per cent for its distribution centre in Tilburg. Lidl's DC will open in January 2017.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
