It would take more than 60 greengrocers to match the carbon dioxide
emissions from a single average superstore.
Tesco’s new “Extras” stores are extremely inefficient in terms of energy
use. A survey by Sheffield Hallam University found that large
superstores are the most energy inefficient buildings in the
retail/light industrial sector, despite the relatively new building
stock. Taking into account the average size of buildings, the amount of
climate changing emissions from superstores compares very badly to those
of other food businesses, emitting three times more carbon dioxide than
a greengrocers, per square foot.
This is from Tescopoly.
George Monbiot in his excellent book Heat, argues that supermarkets are giant sources of energy waste with their bright lights and empty spaces that need heating. Instead he argues we should buy from them on line and get a delivery, I would say supporting local markets is even better and a bit of grow your own is good.
From instant meals packaged with waste and ill health, from encouraging out of season eating, from centralised food delivery which requires lorries to drive millions of miles, to the promotion of addictive consumerism, from out of town stores, to the death of the high street....supermarkets have a huge huge cost, so what are they doing, trying to appear a bit greener....the real solution is for us to produce and consume food without their help!
The Competition Commission will report on supermarket power next week, lets see whether they will take action to reduce the growth of Tescopoly
3 comments:
I read somewhere recently that it's more energy efficient to buy produce from superrmarkets with their centralised distribution systems than to buy from farmers markets.
The Economist and Defra argue that centralised is more effecient because local journeys by farmers may be in more energy intensive vehicles...I tend to disagree.
they argue that consumers driving to buy food is a big problem...I agree.
local food production reduces energy demands see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4312591.stm
best of all is getting it from your windsill or garden...
Not good on Community either. Last week the local Tory MP and troops were out in Barkingside High street collecting signatures for a petition to save the local hospital. They had in advance asked Tesco if they could collect siggies on their property - refused. Not only did Sainsburys agree but they were invited inside due to the inclement weather.
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