Green & Sustainability Solutions Organizations

Lidl GB is the Great Britain division of German discount retailer Lidl. The company opened its first British stores in 1994 and has expanded to more than 1,000 stores supported by a national distribution network. Its retail model focuses on discount grocery shopping, private-label products and streamlined operations, while sourcing a substantial proportion of products from British suppliers.

Lidl is an international discount supermarket chain and part of the Schwarz Group. The company originated in Germany and operates thousands of stores across Europe and the United States. Lidl’s retail model focuses on a limited assortment, a high proportion of private-label products, centralized procurement, and cost-efficient store operations. Its business spans grocery retail, fresh food, household goods, logistics, and distribution, with sustainability programs covering packaging, food waste, energy use, sourcing, and supply chain impacts.

Schwarz Group is a German multinational retail group whose businesses span food retail, manufacturing, recycling, environmental services, and digital technology. Its main retail businesses are Lidl and Kaufland, while Schwarz Produktion manufactures food and packaging products, PreZero provides waste and recycling services, and Schwarz Digits develops IT and digital solutions. The group operates about 14,500 stores and employs roughly 604,000 people worldwide.

Ocado Retail is a UK online grocery retailer operating Ocado.com and the rapid-delivery service Zoom by Ocado. The business was established in 2000 following the creation of the original Ocado operation and specializes in online grocery ordering, fulfillment, and home delivery. Ocado Retail operates separately from Ocado Group’s technology business and is structured as a joint venture between Ocado Group and Marks & Spencer.

Marks & Spencer is a British retailer operating food, clothing, home and consumer goods businesses. The company traces its origins to 1884, when Michael Marks opened a market stall in Leeds, and later developed through his partnership with Thomas Spencer. M&S operates stores, online retail and a substantial food business, including dedicated M&S Food locations and grocery products sold through multiple formats.

Carbfix is a pioneering company in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS), specializing in transforming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into stable minerals. This innovative process, often referred to as "turning CO2 into stone," involves capturing CO2 from industrial sources, dissolving it in water, and injecting it into basaltic rock formations where it mineralizes into solid carbonates. This method provides a permanent and environmentally friendly solution to reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Carbfix was founded in 2007 as a research project initiated by Reykjavik Energy, the University of Iceland, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Columbia University. The company's location is significant due to Iceland's abundant basaltic rock formations, which are ideal for the mineralization process, and its renewable energy resources, which support the sustainability of Carbfix's operations.

Salzgitter AG is a German steel and technology group headquartered in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony. Its operations span steel production, steel processing, trading, and industrial technology. The group traces its corporate roots to the founding of Ilseder Hütte in 1858 and has operated under the Salzgitter AG name since 1998. Its decarbonization strategy centers on the SALCOS program, which is designed to progressively replace conventional coal-based steelmaking with direct reduction, hydrogen and electric arc furnace technologies.

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH is the largest steel-producing company within the Salzgitter Group and operates the group's integrated steelworks in Salzgitter, Germany. Established as a separate operating subsidiary in 2001, the company produces flat steel products for sectors including automotive, engineering, construction, and industrial manufacturing. Salzgitter Flachstahl is also central to the SALCOS transformation program and is increasingly procuring renewable electricity and hydrogen to support the transition toward lower-carbon steel production.

Zelestra is a global renewable energy company that develops, constructs, commercializes and operates large-scale clean energy projects. Founded in 2005 and formerly known as Solarpack, the company operates across markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, with activities covering solar, wind, battery energy storage and renewable energy solutions for corporate customers. Zelestra is privately owned and backed by investment firm EQT. Its business increasingly includes hybrid projects combining renewable generation with battery storage and long-term power purchase agreements.

Energiekontor AG is a German renewable energy developer and operator focused on wind and solar power. Founded in Bremerhaven in 1990 and now headquartered in Bremen, the company develops projects from planning and construction through to operational management. Energiekontor also owns and operates a portfolio of wind and solar parks and has developed projects in Germany and international markets including the UK, France, Portugal and the United States. The company has been publicly listed since 2000.

EWE AG is a German energy and telecommunications group headquartered in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. Its activities include electricity and gas supply, energy networks, renewable generation, telecommunications, hydrogen, energy storage, and electric mobility. The company's roots date back to 1930, and it remains predominantly municipally owned. EWE is expanding renewable energy and hydrogen infrastructure, including projects intended to connect large-scale hydrogen production, storage and industrial demand in northern Germany.

Newlight is a maritime energy technology company developing hydrogen-hybrid propulsion systems for existing commercial vessels. Its retrofit technology integrates controlled hydrogen injection with conventional marine diesel engines, allowing ships to reduce diesel consumption and emissions without replacing the main propulsion system. The company combines hydrogen supply equipment, control software, sensors, and safety systems in a retrofit package designed for installation during planned vessel maintenance. In 2026, Newlight reported commercial voyage results showing reductions in diesel consumption and onboard carbon dioxide emissions. The company focuses primarily on improving the efficiency and emissions performance of the existing global shipping fleet.