Sustainable consumption

Penang fishing village, Malaysia

Introduction

In recent years, customers have shown an increasing interest in where food comes from and how it is sourced. As well as seeking quality and value, they want to know that the products they buy don’t damage the environment and have a positive impact on society. The rapid growth of Fairtrade and organic products reflects these demands.

Research and feedback from academia, governments and NGOs has also helped to highlight some pressing sustainability issues that need to be addressed. Stocks of cod, and many other fish species, have declined dramatically over the past 50 years. Irresponsible growing practices in South America and Asia are contributing to the destruction of valuable rainforests in the name of producing palm oil – a valuable ingredient in many food and non-food products, and soy – a key ingredient in feed for livestock.

At Tesco, we do our best to understand our role in these issues, and take steps to ensure that the products we sell, and the ingredients that go into them, are produced as sustainably as possible.

We are addressing these challenges by promoting sustainable choices for customers, helping suppliers to meet environmental and social challenges and working with stakeholders to find long-term solutions to pressing issues.