LIDL Sweden HQ Earns BREEAM with Green Roofs

Why green roofs matter for supermarkets

Supermarkets are large, flat-roofed buildings that tend to heat up quickly in summer and suffer from wear due to sun and wind. By installing a Sempergreen Green Roof system, Lidl gains a natural shield that cools the building, reduces energy demand, and protects the roofing underneath. The vegetation keeps the temperature on the surface significantly lower, meaning air conditioning is used less. At the same time, the roof membrane lasts longer because it is no longer exposed to constant UV and weather extremes. What might look like a carpet of plants is in fact a highly effective layer of climate adaptation.

The synergy of solar and green roof

At Barkarbystaden, green roofs have been combined with solar panels. This pairing is particularly powerful: the Sedum plants cool the panels naturally, making them operate more efficiently, especially during hot summer days. While the panels generate renewable energy, the green roof absorbs rainwater, reduces stormwater runoff, and provides a habitat for bees and butterflies. In other words, every square metre of roof is doing more than one job – it is generating power, managing water, supporting nature, and cutting costs. This multi-functionality is exactly what future-ready cities need.

Reliable supply for large projects

Of course, a bold vision only becomes reality when there is a partner who can deliver. With its extensive nursery capacity around Europe and worldwide, Sempergreen ensures that even very large projects, such as the 4,000 m² installation for Lidl, can be supplied directly from stock. This reliable availability is critical in projects with tight deadlines and complex logistics. It means that green infrastructure doesn’t have to wait; it can be installed quickly, efficiently and at scale, without compromising on quality or performance.

BREEAM: boosting certification through greenery

The new Lidl Headquarters in Stockholm has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating, one of the most respected sustainability certifications in Europe. Green roofs directly contribute to such scores by improving energy efficiency, reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect, and supporting biodiversity. They also play a role in stormwater management, air quality improvement and employee wellbeing; all categories that BREEAM recognises and rewards. In Barkarbystaden, the Sempergreen roof was not just an architectural choice but a measurable asset, helping to secure high-level certification and proving that environmental responsibility can be both visible and verifiable.

A roof with lasting impact

For employees, visitors, and the community, the green roofs are more than infrastructure. They signal a shift in how companies like Lidl design their buildings, not as isolated boxes, but as active parts of the urban ecosystem. The headquarters in Barkarbystaden shows how business and sustainability can walk hand in hand, setting an example for other retailers. And while the Sedum plants quietly go about their work – cooling, filtering, blooming – the solar panels above them generate clean energy. It is a partnership that pays off for the climate, the company, and the community.