INFORM Corporate Strategy
MARKET INTELLIGENCE BRIEFS
Shoppers demand carbon labels on
■ PROCUREMENT
London is set to be the first
city worldwide to unilaterally
food as ethical product sales increase
reduce its carbon footprint
across public procurement
There is a big demand for carbon of their personal carbon foot- mental issues such as carbon
thanks to a collaboration
labels on food products with 72% prints, whether they think climate (44%) and food miles (42%).
between Trucost and Capital
of consumers wanting them, change is an important issue when However, 68% claimed their pur-
Ambition, London’s Regional
according to new research of buying food, and whether carbon chasing behaviour had changed
Improvement and Efficiency
supermarket shoppers by labels are easily understood. significantly in the past ten years.
Partnership.
Newcastle Business School at Despite most shoppers not Consumers said that their habits
The initiative, funded by
Northumbria University. knowing their carbon foot- had shifted towards purchas-
Capital Ambition, means
The findings follow the print, around three quar- ing more free-range
33 councils and five other
Conservative Party’s pledge to ters of respondents said (46%), Fairtrade (42%),
public bodies, including the
introduce a supermarket ombuds- that clearer carbon
M.I.
locally-sourced food
Greater London Authority
man and legislation to enforce labelling on products (32%), and more organic
and London Fire Brigade, will
“honest labelling” if they are would help them to and less processed food
be able to measure and
elected at the general election. think about green issues. products (32%).
reduce the carbon footprint
Zaina Gadema, a logistics and Sixty-three per cent said “In light of the high pro-
associated with purchased
supply chain management that carbon labels were a useful portion of consumers expressing a
goods and services.
researcher, surveyed more than indicator for comparing environ- definite shift in shopping habits,
400 shoppers across the UK’s mental standards – although qual- these findings suggest that con-
■ ATTITUDES
major supermarkets. They were ity and taste (76%) were still cern is high with respect to cli-
The recession has had little
questioned on their demand for deemed more important when mate change and food purchasing
impact on company attitudes
carbon labelling, their knowledge purchasing food than environ- simultaneously,” said Gadema.
toward charity and corporate
responsibility, according to
REPORTING
new research from SPSS.
Almost half of respondents
Call for greenhouse gas reporting
questioned from a range of
businesses believe that
A group of businesses, NGOs,
attitudes towards CSR
think-tanks and individuals has
have stayed the same or
written an open letter to Business
even improved since the
Secretary Lord Mandelson call-
recession began.
ing for greenhouse gas (GHG)
Colin Shearer, senior vice-
reporting to be made mandatory
president of strategic analytics
for all large UK organisations as
at SPSS, said: “With survival
soon as possible.
regarded as priority for most
MPs including Lib Dem leader
businesses at the moment, it’s
Nick Clegg and Conservative
encouraging to see CSR still
Shadow Climate Change
remains important.”
Minister Greg Barker signed the
letter, along with a mix of busi-
nesses, including Aviva, BSkyB, Businesses including Aviva signed the letter to Lord Mandelson
the Cooperative and Barratt
Homes. The group – known as sumers to make more meaningful “This would allow investors to
The Aldersgate Group – wel- comparisons, it says. more easily identify climate
comes the Government’s volun- One of the signatories, Steve change risks and opportunities.
tary guidance on reporting Waygood, who is head of If we conclude that climate
GHG emissions to help UK sustainability research and change is potentially material
companies manage and reduce engagement at Aviva Investors then we have an informed basis REPORTWATCH
their carbon footprint. said: “We believe that climate on which to make our invest-
Companies that have issued a
However, only half of all change represents a profound ment decisions.”
sustainability report in the past
FTSE 350 companies actually market failure. Aldersgate Group chairman,
month:
disclose their carbon emissions. “There is a clear need for Peter Young added: “Making
The group says that mandato- much tougher policy measures GHG reporting mandatory ■
BrownFlynn I am BrownFlynn
ry reporting would ensure on the international stage, as well would show global political lead- ■
Commerzbank Corporate
greater accountability and trans- as at the national level. While ership from the UK government,
Responsibility Report 2009
parency to help companies iden- Copenhagen failed to deliver provide greater credibility to ■
Pacific Hydro Sustainability
tify cost and carbon savings. It internationally, the UK is well domestic climate targets and help
Report 2009: Powering a
would also create a level playing placed to make carbon reporting accelerate the development of a
Cleaner World
field, allowing investors and con- mandatory in the UK. low-carbon economy.”
IN FACT 24 OF THE FTSE 100 ARE IN THE ENERGY, UTILITIES AND MATERIALS SECTORS AND ACCOUNT FOR 87% OF FTSE 100 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Sustainable Business ❘ February 2010 9
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