CorpComms Magazine

Tesco, Britain's largest supermarket chain, has reportedly ditched plans to embellish all of its products with a carbon footprint label because of the lengthy processes involved in making the calculations.

In 2007 Sir Terry Leahy, the chief executive at the time, said that the 'carbon labelling' would be 'a revolution in green consumption'. The supermarket planned to label up to 50,000 own-brand products but, to date, the logo has been used on just 500 products. The aim was to encourage customers to choose the greener options.

Tesco said the labels were intended to show 'how many grams of carbon or equivalent greenhouse gases were emitted as a result of growing, manufacturing, transporting and storing a product. They also consider the impact of preparing or using a product and then disposing of any waste'.

The phasing out of the logo will come as a bit of a blow to the Carbon Trust, which admits that it is 'disappointed' at the decision.

The decision, although not yet finalised, is due to a combination of the time involved in making the calculations and customer feedback that the labels are  confusing and difficult to understand.

Tesco, which was disappointed at the lack of commitment from other companies to join the scheme, has said that it still remains committed to its target of zero carbon emissions by 2020.

According to the Carbon Trust, the carbon labels have been implemented in more than 100 companies in 22 countries worldwide.

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