Tesco safeguards jobs as it goes green
Thu 4 Feb 2010
Written by Daniel Wilson
Grocery giant Tesco officially opened the world’s first zero-carbon supermarket in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire this week - and the company’s commitment to green technology will safeguard and create thousands of jobs.
Suppliers such as PowerPerfector, which provides Tesco with units to optimise electricity supply, have been able to grow staff numbers as a result of Tesco’s environmentally-friendly policies.
The new store itself was constructed with LED lighting, sustainable wood and a combined heat and power plant powered with renewable fuel. There is no net carbon footprint, as the shop exports back any extra electricity to the national grid.
Chief Executive of the supermarket Terry Leahy said: “I’m proud to be opening the worlds first zero carbon supermarket and I believe it’s no coincidence that it has opened here in the UK, where many of the innovations which make its construction and operation possible were designed and manufactured.”
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson congratulated the company on its “groundbreaking move” and said: “Tesco's commitment to spend £100 million with UK green technology companies will give a real boost to our low carbon sectors.”