Supermarkets across the world are gearing up to reduce their carbon emissions as customers become more and more aware of the importance of ethical shopping.
As previously reported on Global Cool, Marks & Spencer is investing £200 million over five years in an attempt to cut down its environmental impact. Yesterday, the chain revealed their Plan A initiative, which details a radical programme of change and investment.
M&S plan to reduce their CO2 emissions from stores by 30% and from delivery lorries by 25%. The retail giant will also make a shift to green energy sources, including renewables and ‘anaerobic digestion’, or power generated from store and farm waste.
Lorries will run on a minimum of 50% biodiesel. The group will also focus on selling seasonal, British produce to cut down on wasteful ‘food miles’, and introduce an ‘Air Freighted’ symbol on products that have been flown to the UK.
Meanwhile in the US, often controversial supermarket giant Walmart revealed that it too was planning to go green.
Walmart CEO Lee Scott said that the world’s largest retailer wanted to become a “good steward for the environment” by reducing carbon emissions by 20% in seven years. This would be done in part by increasing fuel efficiency of the company’s delivery fleet, potentially saving Walmart $52 million (£25.5 m) every year.
“As one of the largest companies in the world, with an expanding global presence, environmental problems are our problems,” said Mr Scott.
