2Sustain

All the canned tuna Tesco sells is independently certified as 100 percent dolphin-friendly by the Earth Island Institute. And, the company is committed to buying all of its seafood from responsibly managed fisheries.

New last week, the company expanded its commitment to sustainable seafood even more with the announcement that all of its canned tuna will be caught by the pole-and-line method by the end of 2012.

To achieve this target, Tesco says it will work with suppliers and independent conservation organizations to guarantee the sustainability of pole-and-line caught tuna. The company will analyze possible impacts on the marine food chain, improve traceability of tuna through the supply chain and ensure that food safety standards meet stringent requirements. (more…)

Top retailers like Walmart, Tesco and Marks & Spencer are asking their suppliers to report on sustainability programs and provide customers with “greener” products, and now consumer goods companies are scrambling for ways to respond to these rapidly evolving lists of requirements.

Yesterday, Five Winds International, one of North America’s largest and most experienced consulting firms devoted to sustainability management, launched a website to help. The company researched retailers’ programs and developed specific tools to help suppliers understand how to get ahead of retailers’ requirements.
Designed specifically for brand managers and sustainability managers at consumer goods manufacturers, the new website includes: (more…)

Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is continuing to set aggressive environmental targets, despite the lack of clear government guidance, Chief Executive Terry Leahy told Reuters earlier this week.

In fact, the company plans to spend more than 100 million pounds ($159 million) with British green technology companies over the coming year as it moves forward with its drive to cut carbon emissions in half by 2020.

In the Reuters article, Leahy admits that it would be better to have “clear binding targets” (set by governments).  But, since we’re currently operating in a “political vacuum,” businesses will have to take the lead and set their own, he says. (more…)