TESCO plans for "world’s greenest store"

TESCO plans for "world’s greenest store"
As part of its GBP100 million (USD174.4 million) environmental fund announced yesterday, Tesco has unveiled plans for the “greenest store in the world”. The retailer plans to build a store in Aylsham, Norfolk in the UK, which will be made entirely out of recyclable materials such as wood and recycled plastics and has also pledged to cut the amount of energy it uses in its stores in half by 2010 compared with its consumption levels in 2000.
The retailer said it will use wind turbines and solar panels alongside geothermal power and gasification, which turns waste into clean and sustainable power, as it looks to deliver “a huge reduction in carbon emissions''. Chief executive Sir Terry Leahy insisted the fund was not a gimmick to improve the image of the company. “Well, it's a big investment,'' adding that it is “a very interesting and potentially very important development. Everyone is concerned about energy, about carbon, about energy security. The cost of energy has gone up for everybody and Tesco is no exception. We've had to deal with huge rises in energy costs in the last year so, of course, this has really stimulated within the business a search for alternatives.''
Tesco also said it would continue to cut carbon emissions from its vast distribution fleet and added that there would be further investment in recycling schemes for its customers. Chief financial officer Andrew Higginson said the moves were necessary with oil prices touching record levels of around USD70 a barrel, “It brings into play schemes which would otherwise be uneconomic at USD25 a barrel. It is a genuine attempt to listen to customers and their concerns, coupled with economic reality.''