Glow bulbs disappear out of the shelves

Stores in the European Union are, from Tuesday on, not allowed to order glow bulbs of over 100 Watt. The glow bulbs will be replaced by energy-efficient lamps, halogeen and other types of lighting. The countries of the European Union want to save electricity with this plan. Stores have untill September 2010 to sell there glow bulbs of over 75 Watt. One year more they have to sell the glow bulbs of over 60 Watt. In September 2012, the last glow bulbs will disappear out of the stores (plus 25 Watt).

Energy-efficient lamps and LED-lighting are the alternatives for the glow bulbs. In The Netherlands there was no run for the glow bulbs of over 100Watt. In Germany there are a lot of DIY-stores and other light distributors who purchased the heavy lighting, to extend the availability of the heavy glow bulbs.

Carrefour China goes green

Carrefour China is introducing new technologies to its 139 stores in China to cut excess energy expelled by the stores. This eco-friendly move has also proven to be cost-effective, as consumption was reduced between 2005-08 by taking the measures. The new measurement takes place in the plan to reduce 10% of the total energy.

Energy saving renovations in the chain's stores will feature new refrigeration methods, new air-conditioning technology and new lighting. Stores are being revamped in order to accommodate the new measures in energy renovation.

UK Retailer Tesco will mention the emission of CO2 on their milk packaging

UK Retailer Tesco will mention the emission of CO2 on their milk packaging, the aim of Tesco is to increase it to up to 500 products before the end of the year.

Tesco explains that, independent, researches show that over 50% of the population knows what the meaning of carbon footprint is. One year ago just 32% of the population knew the meaning of carbon footprint. Over 50% of the clients of Tesco say that they take the effect on the environment of the products into account.

The largest amount of emission of CO2 for milks happens at the farms. Tesco works together with these farms to reduce this amount, therefor they set up the groups: Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group and Dairy Centre of Excellence. These groups are responsable for the better quality of animal food and the use of renewable energy sources.

www.tesco.co.uk

UK Supermarket chain Sainsbury's reduces amount of plastic in packaging

The UK retailer Sainsbury´s today anounced the use of Amcor Flexible´s new heat-sealed packaging. This packaging will be used for products like strawberries, plums and cherries.

The new packaging will reduce the weigth of the packaging and the total amount of the plastic used by the retailer, supporting the claims of Sainsbury´s Greenretailing policy.

The new package, thanks to the new film metarial, will be 87% lower in weigth, for Sainsbury´s supermarkets thin means a total of aprox. 333 tonnes less of plastic per year.

The film can be printed on and this will also render labelling obsolete, helping the fight against waste again.
The Amcor company is also speaking with other retailers to see if they can introduce their new packaging method there also.

www.sainsburys.co.uk

www.amcor.com

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Tesco: Greener Living Program for a green and sustainable future

The British supermarket chain Tesco is looking to find a green future, they are protagonists of the program “GreenerLiving” for a more sustainable living. This includes labelling sustainable and energy-efficient products, rewarding the consumers with Green Clubcard Points when they purchase green products and re-use bags and recycle mobile phones and inkjet cartridges.

Important part of their green program is the Sustainable Consumption Research Insitute, which is a 25 million pound investment, where together with the University of Manchester Tesco is working to find new ways to improve the environment. It is part of their commitment to a greener, sustainable future and will look for the best green solutions in retail.

The UK retailer is also working with audited and certified farms to assure a high standard of animal welfare, this accounts for all their UK meat, poultry, eggs and farmed fish suppliers. They seek to buy their seafood from responsible managed fisheries, in order to maintain a viable and long-term future for wild fish and shelfish populations.

http://www.tesco.com/greenerliving/
http://www.greenretailingnews.blogspot.com
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UK supermarket chain Marks & Spencer awarded for eco-friendly fishing policy

The UK retailer Marks and Spencer has received an award for their ethical and responsable approach to fishing. This award has been granted by Greenpeace and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Marks and Spencer also catches tuna by using the pole and line method, this has less damaging affect on supplies.

Marks & Spencer is the first UK retailer that uses this way to fish. The tuna fishes are normally used for the sandwiches, fishcakes and meals.

Marks & Spencer has been recognised for their eco-friendly fishing with the MCS´ sustainable fishing awards.

Editorial New York Times: Can Wal-Mart Be Sustainable?

Yesterday the New York Times placed an article on the recent plans of Wal-Mart´s Sustainability.

Recently, Wal-Mart has been rolling out plans for what it calls a sustainability index — a measure of how green the products it sells really are. It is asking each of its suppliers, an enormous list of businesses, 15 questions about the life of their products from manufacturing through disposal: questions about greenhouse gas emissions, social responsibility, waste reduction initiatives and water use.

Click on the link to continue reading the article.

100% ECO Hygienic Paper available at the supermarkets of Albert Heijn and Coop (The Netherlands)

Since today the Dutch consumers are able to purchase 100% ECO Hygienic Paper. The first supermarkets in The Netherlands who offer this environmental-friendly product are Albert Heijn and Coop. The assortment these stores offer are toilet paper, kitchen rolls and tissues of the brand NORTH RIVER. The products are the most environmental friendly products of the market. By using the product the Dutch consumers help to improve the environment.

The production of these paper product is realized by recycled wood, there is no chlorine included, 80% less water is used and the production process is realized by 100% sustainable energy.

For more information on these products take a look at the website of Friends Hygiene or contact them by e-mail jan@friendshygiene.nl

Interview international supermarket news: Marks & Spencer Director of Plan A and sustainable business, about the eco-friendly cause

Today the online version of International Supermarket News (ISN) published an interview with Richard Gillies - Marks & Spencer Director of Plan A and Sustainable Business, about their eco-friendly cause.

Since January 2007, Marks and Spencer has had an environmental and ethical vision to share that has been a major contribution to the supermarket industry's part in fighting for the eco-friendly cause: Plan A. The name suggests top priority, focus, urgency, even passion, and the refusal to settle for a Plan B. This is an initiative that, as well as involving staff across the chain, has embraced everything from landfill to sustainability, to animal welfare. In the name of environmental concern, M&S has worked alongside organisations such as WRAP, Oxfam and The Woodland Trust to reduce waste and to encourage a less corrosive approach to the planet. M&S' Director of Plan A and Sustainable Business Richard Gillies has given ISN an exclusive and detailed insight into how the project has worked from its conception to its ongoing practice, which has just reached its half-way point in fulfilling the ambition of obliterating landfill waste by 2012.

For the rest of this interview we refer to the interview on International Supermarket News.

The collaboration of French retail giant Carrefour and WWF

Some years ago already the French retail multinational Carrefour implemented a plan to save the world´s forest resources. For this plan they started to work together with the NGO organization (WWF – World Wildlife Fund). The plan included to select FSC certified wood and introducing this range of garden furniture made of roble wood. At the moment all the countries were Carrefour is present, they have this range of sustainable forest.

The plan of sustainable forest Management, includes information of suppliers in order to guarantee the traceability of the wood and demonstrate the origen and sustainability of the wood products. The objective is to offer a full range of 100% FSC certified wood products in the assortment of all the international hypermarkets.

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