Not Enough: Tesco

The New York Times recently ran a lengthy piece entitled Environmental Cost of Shipping Groceries Around the World that covered the different angles around the debate of local and global food. One of the striking stats that the paper highlighted was that Britain imports 95% of its fruit and over half of its vegetables – and this contributed to the fact that a quarter of UK truck traffic carried food. As we read this, we came across a disappointing remark from Tesco which reflected their lack of commitment to environmental matters. In it a spokesman for the retailer explains that it’s not their job to lead change – only react to consumer demand:

Britain, with its short growing season and powerful supermarket chains, imports 95 percent of its fruit and more than half of its vegetables. Food accounts for 25 percent of truck shipments in Britain, according to the British environmental agency, DEFRA.

Mr. Datson of Tesco acknowledged that there were environmental consequences to the increased distances food travels, but he said his company was merely responding to consumer appetites. “The offer and range has been growing because our customers want things like snap peas year round,” Mr. Datson said. “We don’t see our job as consumer choice editing.”

The thing is, that the chief influencer of food consumption across the world has been the retail sector, and while the internet begins to provide new information sources they will continue to play an important part in developing ‘choice’. Isn’t this a shrug of the shoulders from Tesco and a ‘Environment? Not our job, mate’?

NY Times

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