Tescos chickens have been linked with deforestation in the Amazon.
How often do you hear a big company claim to have strict sustainability values which they enforce to all members of their supply chain, only for their buying strategy to demand unsustainably low prices and higher margins?
Again we are seeing how the two sides to one business just don’t mesh.
Tesco has been demanding stricter sustainability measures for NZ meat producers and while I applaud making changes towards sustainability goals, I’m pretty tired of companies not putting their money where their mouth is.
It’s a familiar story. It’s easier to shift accountability to others then to make changes in-house. There is too often a lack of communication between their own buyers, marketing and sustainability managers.
Coming from a career in fashion, situations like these weren’t uncommon. I’ve been there and worked behind the scenes hoping to avoid such issues.
Global fashion brands were/are often exposed for their unsustainable supply chain issues. From coal usage, child labour, waste dumping, unfair pay, bad work conditions, greenwashing and more.
It’s long overdue that the same scrutiny applied to fashion is seen across industries.
I feel many businesses we have talked to in agriculture, food and bioenergy feel they are immune to this but we are now at the tipping point where transparency is demanded by their consumers and you can no longer say it is someone else’s fault.
Is there a way for supermarkets to better connect their own buying strategy to their sustainability values? Absolutely.
At CiRCLR, we have been working on these systems. We have spoken to growers, farmers, food manufacturers and other businesses involved in food production.
Want to know one of the biggest hurdles involved in reducing food waste and food loss? Retail.
Reach out if you want to know more about how we are simplifying circular economies and connecting food supply chains to value added opportunities and decarbonisation.