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Sir Terry Leahy (Chief Executive)
Tesco PLC
New Tesco House
Delamare Rd.
Cheshunt
EN8 9SL

 

4th February 2007

 

OPEN LETTER

 

Dear Sir Leahy,

 

We seem to be at a stage in the fight against global warming where the executive answer to the question: “Why is your organisation or industry sector not doing more?” is a standard: “We are doing all we can.”, followed by a long list of all the things already implemented.

 

Your article in the Independent on the 1st February 2007, was as predictable and it was disappointing because it followed this now typical response.

 

Many corporations in the UK and internationally appear desperate to tell the public just how ‘green’ they are. I can recycle my Christmas card in TESCO and a reduction of 300 mill. carrier bags, and a price reduction on low-energy light bulbs are clearly small but welcome changes.

 

Unfortunately, this is little more than tinkering around the edges. In fact it shows that TESCO has a ‘green’ marketing strategy, which clearly is designed to protect its market share and align the TESCO image with that expected by the consumer.
There is regrettably little evidence of TESCO having a corporate ’green’ strategy, which aims to help bring about change and make a real impact on global warming. The opening of TESCO stores in China, the need for campaigns to bring supermarkets to account over packaging and the continued import of sale of overseas products, which could be sourced closer to home or even in the UK confirms our view, that it is business as usual behind the ‘green’ advertising slogans.

 

The excuse that TESCO “a while ago tried to dispense with the cardboard sleeves wrapped some of the ready meals” and found that customers took their money to products with a cardboard sleeve, is at the heart of my concerns because you in your article transfer the blame to the consumer.

 

Here we are, on the brink of what may end up being a truly catastrophic century for humanity, and TESCO is concerned about customers liking the wrapping provided. Surely, just about all customers eat the content and drop the packaging in the bin.

 

What a brave move to change the packing and what a wasted opportunity to make a real difference by providing customer with a choice, which in the end makes no difference to the product being sold.

 

Why do individuals buy 4x4’s when they are bad for the environment? Why do we buy fattening food, when we know it is not good for us? Because we have a choice and an opportunity to do so. And unfortunately many make the wrong choice when shopping, but to say that this is the consumers fault is not true when TESCO and other major retailers could work towards removing bad choices all together.

 

Fantastic news that TESCO has reduced the price on low-energy light bulbs. Unfortunately the standard bulbs stay on the shelves in the name of choice, because this does not work as a model for how to bring about change. Look no further than to our ineffective Government, which has promoted the ‘voluntary’ approach the last 8 years with little effect despite a large number of expensive advertising campaigns.

 

If TESCO is a truly ‘green’ organisation and wants to be part of the fight against global warming, then your organisation will have to be a lot more innovative and brave before I am prepared to buy your ‘green’ credentials as the genuine article.

 

And what a breath of fresh air that would be in a world where global warming still only appears to be a concept in the marketing department.

 

I thank you for your time.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

Flemming Bermann
Chairman