Tesco's green supply chain initiatives

24 Mar 2011

Tesco has installed wind turbines at three distribution centres in its network, helping the retailer to become a zero-carbon business by 2050.

Jake Ronay, renewables programme manager at Tesco, commented: "The wind turbines will make a major contribution to our electricity needs at the distribution centres, in a clean and quiet manner. This is just another step in our long-term plan to seek alternative solutions to cut carbon emissions. Each year the turbines will save approximately 3,200 tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere and help us achieve our goal of becoming a zero-carbon business by 2050."

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The four wind turbines have been installed at Tesco's regional distribution centre in Magor, near Newport and at two national distribution centres in Daventry.

Each wind turbine generates enough electricity to power 500 domestic homes and effectively takes the three distribution centres off the national grid. Any surplus electricity will be exported back to the UK's national electricity supplies.

The wind turbines are the latest in a number of initiatives implemented across Tesco's supply chain:

• Tesco invested £9.2m in double-deck lifts in the UK and the retailer is now delivering to high-trade stores on double-deck trailers. During 2010 Tesco cut 52,000 deliveries to stores, saving 12 million road miles. Tesco plans to deliver to its top 100 stores using double-deck trailers by the end of 2011
• A purpose-built import storage facility at Teesport in Middlesbrough was opened in 2010. Located close to major railway lines, Tesco products will be transported via rail instead of road, taking more than 12,000 lorry journeys off the UK’s roads every year
• Working in conjunction with logistics company Eddie Stobart, Tesco transports fruit and vegetables from Valencia, Spain to the UK via rail. Using this rail service takes 30 lorries off the road and saves 30 tonnes of CO2