Tesco Adds Carbon Footprint To Milk Packaging

Wed, 19 Aug 2009
 
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Tesco has become the first retailer in the UK to add a carbon footprint label to its own-brand milk .

The supermarket’s full-fat, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk cartons will now display their carbon footprint as part of the retailers' ongoing effort to assist shoppers in making "green" purchases.

A recent survey found that 50 per cent of Tesco shoppers now understand the meaning of "carbon footprint", compared to 32 per cent twelve months ago, while more than half said they would actively seek products with a lower footprint .

Tesco community and government director David North said: "We’re using [milk] to play an important new role in helping our customers understand climate change, the carbon footprints of products, and what steps they can take to help."

"Milk is not only one of the biggest sellers in store; it's also prominent on breakfast tables day in day out across the country. So we think carbon labels on milk can play a great part in raising awareness and helping customers navigate the new carbon footprint."

Tesco said the move is part its plans to carbon footprint 500 staple products by the end of the year, including its own-brand bread, bags, toilet and kitchen roll.

The UK’s largest retailer is also working with dairy farmers to lower methane emissions from cows, which account for the biggest portion of milk’s carbon footprint .

"We are currently embarking on a number of research projects to reduce the carbon emissions from milk production," North added.

"For example, we’re working on using different feeds that might help reduce methane emissions from cows, and encouraging the use of renewable energy on farms."

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