Eight of Britain's leading companies yesterday launched a campaign to help shoppers cut carbon dioxide emissions. The move is designed to encourage families to reduce household emissions by one tonne - or 10% - over the next three years.
The supermarkets, who were criticised yesterday by the charity ActionAid for chasing the "green pound" while exploiting workers abroad, announced a series of measures at a briefing yesterday.
Tesco said it would halve the price of its energy-saving light bulbs, while Marks & Spencer is relabelling its clothes to encourage people to wash them at more environmentally-friendly, lower temperatures of just 30C.
The other companies which have signed up are B&Q, Barclaycard, British Gas, O2, Royal & SunAlliance and BSkyB, while others set to join this year include HSBC bank and National Express. The coalition also has the support of the Energy Saving Trust, the National Consumer Council, the Church of England, Stop Climate Chaos and Live Earth.
If every household takes up the "We're in this together" campaign initiatives over the next three years, there is a potential saving of 25m tonnes of CO2 - more than the combined emissions of Scotland and Wales. Partners will provide either products, services or advice for consumers to help reduce household emissions.
The campaign was formed as a response to research showing that people feel powerless when faced with the challenge of climate change. It is spearheaded by the Climate Group, an NGO created to act as a catalyst between business, state and civil groups to tackle climate change.
Tony Blair, who attended the launch with the environment secretary, David Miliband, said: "The old argument was that we couldn't afford to take action on the environment because it would hurt the economy. I think what we've heard from these companies today is that it's a win-win."
Mr Blair said energy-efficient lightbulbs were already used in Downing Street, and that the government's car fleet was being subject to stricter green standards.
Tesco chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, said: "Our customers tell us they want to do more in the fight against climate change, but want our help to make it easier and more affordable. We have set ourselves a target to sell 10m energy-saving light bulbs in the coming year. A big part of helping customers to buy green products is to bring the price down so we have also halved the cost of energy-saving bulbs."
Stuart Rose, chief executive officer of Marks & Spencer, said the company is to re-label almost three-quarters of its clothing ranges to include the words "Think Climate - Wash at 30C" on the garment care labels, in a move that could save around 40% energy per wash. He said: "We know our customers are concerned about climate change and want to minimise their impact on the environment. If we all moved to washing at 30C we could save enough electricity to light every street lamp in the UK for 10 months."
BSkyB is introducing a new feature in set top boxes which will automatically send them into "deep standby" at night when not used between 11pm and 4am.
Robin Oakley, senior climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace, said: "Sky is among the few companies forging ahead to cut out energy wastage in their products, and it is time this became the priority for companies producing all our appliances.
"Even apparently small things like appliances that switch themselves off when we forget can make massive CO2 and energy savings when multiplied across the population."
Save your energy
Tesco: Halving the price of energy-saving light bulbs in order to sell 10m over the next 12 months compared with 2m now. Doubling sales space for them and making them easier to find.
Marks & Spencer: Labelling nearly 75% of its clothing with the care instructions: "Think climate, wash at 30 degrees C". As chief executive Stuart Rose said yesterday: "If it's not dirty, wash at 30."
Royal & Sun Alliance: Offering a "smart box" that gives motorists regular reports on how green their driving behaviour is.
B&Q: Developing new insulation products and easier ways to plan, buy, use and install products that stop heat escaping.
O2: Encouraging mobile phone owners to hold on to their handset rather than choose a new model by offering credits to those who continue to the end of their contract.
Sky: Introducing a feature in set-top boxes that will send them into power-saving "deep standby" after 11pm if sitting idle.
Barclaycard: Launch of new green credit card called Barclaycard Breathe, which offers discounts and lower rates on green products and transport options.
British Gas: Has devised an energy saver report, which is an audit on 17 questions about a home's energy efficiency, leading to an overall rating. Suggests improvements such as energy-efficient boilers and offers incentives.
