Tesco invests £25m in sustainable consumption research

Top grocer Tesco is to invest£25 million in a University of Manchester venture to research environmentally-friendly consumption.

The grocer said that the university’s Sustainable Consumption Institute would “help deliver a revolution in green consumption” and that its findings would be shared with other retailers.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy maintained that the funding was evidence of the retailer’s commitment to tackling environmental issues. He said: “We know our customers are concerned about climate change and expect us to be taking the lead. Making a real difference to global problems will take time, but our support for this partnership marks another milestone on the road to a low-carbon future.”

The institute will “promote fresh thinking and explore vital areas of research such as how customers can be incentivised to buy green products and services, how business can adapt to meet customer needs and how we can train the next generation of environmental leaders and experts”.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has made climate change of foreign policy consideration, said: “The Sustainable Consumption Institute is an excellent example of the important part that business can play in tackling climate change.”