Tesco checks supply chain receipt for carbon costs

The retailer is requesting more information about its suppliers through environmental non-profit CDP

Tesco, along with Target and CVS Health, has joined the ranks of global businesses requesting more information about their supply chains through environmental non-profit CDP.

CDP helps firms in collecting data from suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint and avoid environmental risks associated with the products and services they provide.

It suggests the recent swell in leadership shown by the retail sector is part of a wider pattern of action from businesses, governments and councils around the world, which are increasingly using their purchasing power to tackle climate change.

A total of 115 organisations representing a combined annual spend of more than US$3.3 trillion (£2.5tn) are now requesting data from around 11,500 suppliers.

This is more than 15% increase from last year, when 99 organisations requested data.

In addition to businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, CDP added it has observed a surge of interest in preventing deforestation and bolstering water security.

Sonya Bhonsle, Head of Supply Chain at CDP, said: “With emissions in the supply chain on average around four times greater than those from a company’s direct operations and rising to up to seven times greater for retailers and consumer-facing companies, large multinational corporations cannot comprehensively address their environmental impact without looking to their supply chains.”

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