Environmental Leader

More European supermarket chains are moving towards carbon labels, following the lead of Tesco, which introduced a carbon label trial earlier this year.

Switzerland-based grocery operator Migros, which pioneered a supply chain code of conduct in the 1990s, has started work on developing a CO2 emissions standard for both Migros’ own label goods and other suppliers’ products that will enable shoppers to compare similar lines from different producers, The Retail Bulletin reports.

The French supermarket chain Casino has launched a carbon labeling initiative on a selection of its private label products, Food Production Daily reports. The labels, which the retailer hopes to have on 3,000 of its products by the end of 2008, show the CO2 emissions related to a products’ production.

Several companies, including Cadbury, have signed up for the British Carbon Trust’s pilot carbon labeling scheme, which requires companies to keep track on emissions throughout the supply chain.