Jonathan Deamer

A few years ago, it was “computers for schools” voucher schemes. More recently, it was healthy eating, five-a-day and “no more fatties” campaigns. And the latest ploy the supermarkets are using to convince us that they actually give a toss about their effect on the world around them is a façade of eco-friendliness.

I noticed in town today this green public face (that’s a metaphor, not actually someone wearing grass-coloured makeup) being proudly shown off by Sainsbury’s, with a huge display in its front window about how the store is doing its bit for the environment by giving out reusable “bags for life“. Tesco, meanwhile, have tried to show their social conscience with a green loyalty card system, where you can accumulate points to spend on goods instore for re-using carrier bags. Admittedly, these schemes are better than nothing, and will have a bit of a positive effect; if everyone uses a couple fewer plastic bags with their weekly shop, there will be at least some cumulative environmental benefit.

Having said that though, I’ve always got the impression that supermarkets only do things to help the environment when such acts are in full public glare and can be dressed up as some sort of marketing gimmick or special offer. When they could do things that really would make a great deal of difference to society, but aren’t as easily made into a funny advert, they don’t, as I’ve witnessed during years of working as a Tesco till-monkey. (Yes, I’ve grafted before poncing off to art school. Although I did try to quote Sylvia Plath to the customers whenever I could.)

Before I go telling tales though, let me be clear: I’m not completely anti-Tesco. I know there are accusations that they don’t support Fair Trade products (among various other things) which, if true, are a bit rubbish. But the main problem most people seem to have with them is that they’re expanding too massively and damaging small businesses. I always think though, “Tesco was a small business once. It skilfully offered a good service that people liked, and has grown to be hugely successful as a consequence. And isn’t that what our economy’s based on?”. Equally, I don’t hate any company solely for being huge. I hate Starbucks, for example, not because there are three of them on my driveway alone, but because they use underpaid Third World labour.

Anyway, back to my point. I worked in a small Tesco Express store – you know the type: a glorified newsagent where you could also stock up on your ready-meals, pre-packed sandwiches and sundry other knick-knacks (including Nik-Naks). Every day just before closing, someone would have to go round the shop and take all the products on the final day before their use-by-date from off the shelves. I always tried to get this job if I could, as it was a good chance to procure discounted Scotch eggs, which is just the sort of opportunity for which I’m forever on the lookout. But then, all the barely out-of-date (but still perfectly edible) goods were thrown away. Tens of sandwiches, gallons of milk and loads of anything else with a sell-by date: doughnuts, biscuits, fruit juices, you know the score. The amount of waste was disgusting.

I always asked why we couldn’t give this food to a homeless shelter or similar. Apparently, there’s some sort of health-and-safety legislation bollocks that stops them doing that. But think about it: across the chain’s couple of thousand stores, how much food must be wasted every day? How much packaging? And if Tesco actually gave a second thought to anything other than their own profits, wouldn’t they use their corporate muscle to find a way around this? Maybe it’s because this would require real action, not just a glossy ad campaign. And that’s if the health-and safety defense is true – it may well be just because they can’t be bothered.

Despite what I said before about marketing campaigns though, wouldn’t it make great PR too? “Supermarket giant fights government legislation to help the homeless”. More importantly, it would be far more eco-friendly than saving a couple of plastic bags.

I’m not suggesting saving the waste of a load of sandwiches is going to solve all the world’s problems. But every little helps. (Groan…) And if Tesco really care about the environment – for its own sake, not that of their balance sheet – they should make this a central part of their strategy of so-called corporate responsibility.

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