Tesco carbon footprint bigger than Mauritius

Tesco's recent attempt to present itself as a force for environmental good appears to be backfiring, as evidence emerges that Britain's biggest retailer has severely underestimated its true contribution to climate change.
Development charity Christian Aid says Tesco's carbon footprint does not include the emissions caused by shoppers driving to and from its stores or those incurred by its suppliers. Christian Aid believes that the true impact Tesco has on the environment could be as much as 12 times higher than the level the supermarket admits to. Campaigners from the charity will meet Tesco representatives tomorrow at its distribution centre in Chepstow to urge the company to come clean on its carbon footprint which stands, even by its own estimate, at 4.13m tonnes of CO2 equivalent - bigger than Mauritius.
Dr Sharon McClenaghan, Christian Aid's senior policy officer, said: 'Tesco has made some promises that it now needs to live up to. Currently, even the company's own green auditors have said that there is still a long way to go. We are seeking assurances that the company will stick by its promises, but also ensure that it does not do so simply by axing overseas suppliers, where what's needed is help and support from rich world companies to help them to go green too.'