Asda has slammed a report into the environmental credentials of supermarkets that downgraded it as having “room for improvement” following a “showing potential” grade two years ago.
The assessment of the nine largest supermarket groups in the UK was commissioned out by statutory body Consumer Focus during July this year and carried out by an independent marketing company using mystery-shopper techniques. It rated supermarkets across a range of environmental indicators including availability of seasonal UK produce, organics and Fairtrade, as well as on how much they are doing to cut down on waste and encourage the re-use of carrier bags.
The full report, Green to the Core, was published this week and rated both Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer as excellent, awarding them an A grade. Waitrose earned a B and Tesco showed no progress on a C while Asda was moved down a grade to D.
Julian Walker-Palin, Asda’s head of corporate policy for sustainability and ethics, said: “The Consumer Focus Report Green to the Core isn’t worth the recycled paper it’s written on. It’s inaccurate and misleading...
"I am supportive of Consumer Focus; in fact we are the only retailer working alongside them on a hugely important three-year project focusing on how we can help customers to make green choices. And yet the report rates us lower than the supermarkets who are not working with them.
"In this report they have walked around one of our shops then made sweeping statements on our overall corporate policy.”
Consumer Focus defended the methodology used in the report, saying it was the same as that used in a previous report by its predecessor body the National Consumer Council, which had been welcomed by Asda.
The report’s recommendations include exploring and progressing consumer acceptance to doors on chillers, engaging with suppliers to ensure a secure supply of UK seasonal produce and promoting that produce in stores and online.
Report author Lucy Yates said: “We challenge all supermarkets to follow in the footsteps of their better rivals and help their customers… to shop green. This means helping consumers, for example, spot and buy UK seasonal produce such as spinach and courgettes through money-off promotions or recipe ideas.”
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