Green Giant: A Revolution in Green Consumption

Tesco's c.e.o., Sir Terry Leahy, has promised "a revolution in green consumption" from his company. Under his leadership, the global retailer has set an ambitious strategy to become more environmentally friendly. Among its objectives:

• Tesco plans to make public the "carbon footprint" of all of its products, taking into account how far, and by what method, they've traveled, as well as the energy expended in manufacturing, processing, and packaging. The company is currently researching how this can be done.

• It will work with suppliers to reduce its indirect carbon footprint. Unilever has already joined forces with Tesco for this effort.

• The company has pledged to cut emissions from its stores and distribution centers in half by 2020.

• Its distribution fleet will run on a 50 percent biodiesel fuel.

• It will discount energy-efficient products. For instance, it will reduce the price of energy-efficient light bulbs by half, while working with suppliers to ensure that all light fittings in the United Kingdom have an energy-efficient bulb option.

• It will extend its Value line of private label products to include more energy-efficient options.

• It will use its Tesco Green Clubcard program to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient TVs and other products, as well as organic, Fair Trade, and biodegradable food items.

• It will double the number of gasoline stations that sell biofuel, to more than 300.

• It will seek to restrict air transport to less than 1 percent of its products. An airplane symbol will be placed on all air-freighted products in its stores.