Less achieves more
Step aside George Monbiot, move over Jonathan Porritt, there's a new alpha male leading the green lobby and this one is dressed in an M&S suit. As large retailers hurry to whip out their green credentials should we now be embracing them? Definitely not!
In January Stuart Rose, Marks and Spencer’s Chief Executive, announced a £200 million strategy for turning one of the UK’s biggest retailers into a carbon neutral business by 2012.
US giant Wal-Mart (trading as Asda in the UK) has pledged to power all its US stores with renewable energy and Tesco’s chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has leapt into action promising to slash carbon emissions by 2020 and announcing a carbon labelling scheme to help shoppers choose the goods that contribute least to global warming.
US giant Wal-Mart (trading as Asda in the UK) has pledged to power all its US stores with renewable energy and Tesco’s chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has leapt into action promising to slash carbon emissions by 2020 and announcing a carbon labelling scheme to help shoppers choose the goods that contribute least to global warming.
What to do?
Just when we thought shopping locally with independent retailers was the right thing to do the major multiples stick a green tinted spanner in our spokes. Is it time to cycle out to the supermarket instead of walking to that corner shop?
Friends of the Earth’s Senior Food Campaigner Vicki Hird’s response to that idea is an emphatic 'no'. She argues that the greening of large companies must be considered in the context of the wider issue of fair trade.
'Can you imagine a world with only five companies to choose from when it comes to doing your shopping? There is already too much buying power in the hands of too few major international corporations in the food business. It is vital for big companies to tackle global warming but it is also important to put people before profits. Caring about the environment has to be matched by a real commitment to agreeing fair deals with producers.'
Friends of the Earth’s Senior Food Campaigner Vicki Hird’s response to that idea is an emphatic 'no'. She argues that the greening of large companies must be considered in the context of the wider issue of fair trade.
'Can you imagine a world with only five companies to choose from when it comes to doing your shopping? There is already too much buying power in the hands of too few major international corporations in the food business. It is vital for big companies to tackle global warming but it is also important to put people before profits. Caring about the environment has to be matched by a real commitment to agreeing fair deals with producers.'
According to Friends of the Earth's figures the environmental argument for shopping locally still looks quite compelling
Small independent shops are generally far more energy efficient than the superstores. FoE argues it would take more than 60 greengrocers to match the carbon dioxide emissions of just one average superstore and, of course, shopping on the high street can dramatically cut traffic congestion if we walk, cycle or use public transport.
Better still, independent grocers have been found to offer better value for money on fresh fruit and vegetables than supermarkets with street markets offering even better buys.
Better still, independent grocers have been found to offer better value for money on fresh fruit and vegetables than supermarkets with street markets offering even better buys.
Where does it come from?
Try asking the busy greengrocer if his apples and pears are sourced in accordance with his CSR policy (that's corporate social responsibilty) and he'll think you're having a bubble bath (a laugh).
And that's just for starters, would he be able to tell you whether or not exploited, frostbitten, powerless migrant labourers were involved in harvesting your locally grown brussel sprouts?
Ironically it may only be larger retailers, who exert so much control throughout the supply chain, who can make a major difference in the matter of people friendliness. Aside from the producer-led farmer’s market movement, small independent traders probably feel as powerless as we do when it comes to establishing the social and environmental costs of the products on their shelves.
Should large companies be supported because they can make a big difference? Certainly the sheer scale of their activities allows them, if they choose, to break new ground.
For example, one innovative aspect of the M&S plan is it’s commitment to using recycled materials in its products. By ensuring that much of the polyester used in its clothing is sourced from recycled plastic bottles M&S will be helping to square a virtuous circle by creating a market for recycled plastics and demonstrating to us that recycling is worth the effort.
Leaving aside the vexed question of whether we can trust the major retailers to deliver on their promises, is it still best to champion independent retailers when most have very limited ways of improving the environmental or social impact of their business? FoE argues yes in part because supermarkets do not simply respond to consumer demand, they drive it.
And that's just for starters, would he be able to tell you whether or not exploited, frostbitten, powerless migrant labourers were involved in harvesting your locally grown brussel sprouts?
Ironically it may only be larger retailers, who exert so much control throughout the supply chain, who can make a major difference in the matter of people friendliness. Aside from the producer-led farmer’s market movement, small independent traders probably feel as powerless as we do when it comes to establishing the social and environmental costs of the products on their shelves.
Should large companies be supported because they can make a big difference? Certainly the sheer scale of their activities allows them, if they choose, to break new ground.
For example, one innovative aspect of the M&S plan is it’s commitment to using recycled materials in its products. By ensuring that much of the polyester used in its clothing is sourced from recycled plastic bottles M&S will be helping to square a virtuous circle by creating a market for recycled plastics and demonstrating to us that recycling is worth the effort.
Leaving aside the vexed question of whether we can trust the major retailers to deliver on their promises, is it still best to champion independent retailers when most have very limited ways of improving the environmental or social impact of their business? FoE argues yes in part because supermarkets do not simply respond to consumer demand, they drive it.
The price of a lime
My late mother’s unrealised dream of tasting a fresh lime is now an everyday option for the supermarket shopper but at what cost?
FoE maintains that in 1980 the UK imported 6.3 million tonnes of food, animal feed and drinks annually. By 2000 this had risen to a colossal 17 million tonnes. And it is not accounted for simply by exotics such as limes.
In 2003 FoE discovered that, during the peak UK apple season, over half of the apples on sale in Tesco and Asda were imported. This might change, but not Hird argues, if the supermarkets continue to grow too powerful.
'People need to think about how to spend their shopping pounds and we argue they should think carefully about how much power they want to hand to a very few companies.'
So if you want to do your bit for people and planet just remember that in matters of consumption less spent at supermarkets really might achieve more. There’s a very simple way to achieve that - shop by bike or on foot. If we have to carry it home ourselves rather than chuck it in the boot and drive home we will always ask ourselves whether we really need all that stuff.
FoE maintains that in 1980 the UK imported 6.3 million tonnes of food, animal feed and drinks annually. By 2000 this had risen to a colossal 17 million tonnes. And it is not accounted for simply by exotics such as limes.
In 2003 FoE discovered that, during the peak UK apple season, over half of the apples on sale in Tesco and Asda were imported. This might change, but not Hird argues, if the supermarkets continue to grow too powerful.
'People need to think about how to spend their shopping pounds and we argue they should think carefully about how much power they want to hand to a very few companies.'
So if you want to do your bit for people and planet just remember that in matters of consumption less spent at supermarkets really might achieve more. There’s a very simple way to achieve that - shop by bike or on foot. If we have to carry it home ourselves rather than chuck it in the boot and drive home we will always ask ourselves whether we really need all that stuff.
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