In just over a month, the Saco Solidário “Pa-tudo”, launched by Lidl Portugal, has already raised about €150,000 for the animal welfare cause. The amount will be distributed to 54 local animal protection associations, three for each district of Mainland Portugal, through the coordination of Animalife, as disclosed in a press release.
According to the same source, the initiative, which marks the International Day of the Abandoned Animal, celebrated on August 15, aims to respond not only to the needs of animals sheltered by the associations, but also to the root causes of abandonment.
The bag is available in Lidl stores for one euro, with 50 cents from each unit sold going to the animal welfare cause. The funds will support the shelter and protection of stray animals, as well as measures to prevent abandonment.
This preventive component seeks to help families in economically vulnerable situations who face difficulties in meeting the costs associated with their companion animals. The aim is to prevent that a lack of financial resources leads to the separation of the animals from their families.
The need for this support is particularly relevant in a context of high pressure on shelter structures. According to data from the first National Census of Stray Animals, there are nearly one million dogs and cats living on the streets in Portugal, with an average of more than 115 abandonments per day.
“Marking the International Day of the Abandoned Animal with this result and seeing that we have already reached €150,000 raised in just over a month fills us with deep pride,” says Vanessa Romeu, Head of Corporate Affairs at Lidl Portugal.
According to the spokesperson, the amount represents “real help” for the associations that work daily in protecting animals. “The fight against abandonment requires supporting the shelters, but also preventing families in difficulty from being unable to care for their animals,” she adds.
Beyond the social dimension, the project incorporates a circular economy component. The Saco “Pa-tudo” is produced from plastic waste collected from coastal areas and carries the Ocean Bound Plastic certification.
The initiative thus allows pairing the reuse of plastic waste with funding for animal protection responses, seeking to transform a daily-use product into a tool of support for associations and families.
The Saco Solidário “Pa-tudo” remains available in Lidl stores, allowing consumers to contribute to the initiative.
