Roger Saunders

Tesco's Big Green Plans Labeled a Failure

February 1, 2012

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Back in January 2007, Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy pledged to develop a program that would place carbon labels on the more than 50,000 products the retailer sold. In May 2008, Tesco said it was finally getting underway with its carbon labeling program. Now comes word that the company has decided to end the program saying it was too complicated and costly. Will the end of Tesco's carbon labeling program damage its credibility on sustainability issues?      [more...]

Carbon labeling is a complex issue, one that does not easily translate to the everyday consumer. Tesco should take the steps to make the complex simple, should they choose to let consumers know what and why they are taking steps in this area. In the process, they will also need to offer the consumer Tesco's perceived value in making these moves, and how it benefits the consumer.

There is zero damage to Tesco's external credibility on sustainability issues. If necessary to help their own internal agenda maintain a focus on this area, be it promotional, cost-saving, or environmental belief (perhaps all of these), they should address it with associates and vendors. Those are the constituents that they invited into the party initially.