Tesco have announced their ambition to become leaders in reducing food waste globally.
The initiative has been highlighted as one of three key strategies for their relationship with wider society, as described in their first 'Tesco and Society Report', launched yesterday 23 May. The report, 'Tesco and Society Report 2013 - What Matters Now: Using Our Scale For Good', also includes aims such as 'Providing opportunities for young people' and 'Helping our customers and colleagues to live healthier lives'.
Noting that around one-third of the world’s food is lost or wasted, Tesco state, 'We already work hard to drive efficiency in our own operations and we have a strong track record of waste management. Our ambition is to build on this to lead in reducing food waste throughout the value chain – in fields, farms, distribution, transport, stores and customers’ homes. To achieve this, we want to work in partnership with food producers and suppliers, and engage with our customers in all of our markets to reduce waste wherever it occurs'.
According to the retailer, the 'Tesco and Society' report marks a departure from previous Corporate Responsibility reports. The introduction to the new report states, 'Our scale already enables us to create value for our customer. Using our scale for good is about taking that idea one significant step further and creating greater value for society as a whole. Tesco chairman Richard Broadbent commented, "We have given considerable thought to the existing business and to the changes taking place in society. We have been reflecting on our values and how to use our scale for good."
Tesco Ireland Announce Plan To Save Over €20M Annually
Elsewhere, Tesco Ireland has announced plans to save over €20 million a year by cutting refrigeration cooling costs. The retailer has teamed up with IBM Dublin to use intelligence to ensure that refrigerators operate at the correct temperature, with researchers collecting and analyzing data from an Irish Tesco store over the course of the year. According to local reports, the retailer is now planning a six-month trial with a number of stores. If these are successful, Tesco intends to roll out the energy-saving scheme across more than 3000 Tesco outlets in the UK & Ireland over an 18 month period.
