A Sustainable Development Commission review of policies affecting supermarkets has concluded that

government cannot successfully combat obesity, waste and climate change without a concerted approach to

harness the power of supermarkets.

The report Green, Healthy and Fair - A review of the government’s role in supporting sustainable supermarket

food finds that:

• Obesity and waste are being fuelled by multi-buy promotions, over-packaging and non-recyclable

packaging

• 5-a-day public health messages cannot succeed while high-calorie, low nutrient processed foods are

promoted aggressively, making fresh produce appear expensive and unappealing by comparison

• Climate change policies aimed at reducing emissions from supermarket operations fail to adequately

address transport issues, including goods transportation and the effect of planning laws on customers’ car

use

Over 70% of UK groceries are sold by four supermarket chains - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons. While the

government maintains an official ‘hands-off’ approach to supermarkets, the Sustainable Development

Commission found over 20 Scottish Government and almost one hundred Whitehall policy responsibilities related

to supermarkets and food.

However, despite some encouraging initiatives, too many supermarket products and practices are still unhealthy,

unjust and unsustainable.

Conflicting policies from different areas of government are also making it impossible to achieve targets - for

example, advice to eat more fish is cutting across attempts to preserve endangered fish stocks. Supermarkets

and consumers are confused over the relative merits of ‘local’ food versus the value to overseas development of

foods such as green beans airfreighted from Kenya.

Professor Tim Lang, Commissioner at the Sustainable Development Commission, said:

”Government cannot resolve the problems of obesity, waste or climate change alone. Given the enormous

influence wielded by supermarkets, working with them effectively is essential.

“There are many areas where the government and retailers are already working together, but government needs

to be more ambitious. With public scrutiny of retailers’ behaviour increasing, many supermarkets are keen to

work with government to develop a green, healthy and fair food system. In fact, our research with supermarkets

has shown that in areas such as climate change or recycling policy, they are often frustrated by the lack of clarity

or long-term strategy on which they can plan for the future.”

The Sustainable Development Commission identifies six priority areas for government and supermarket action:

waste; nutrition and obesity; climate change; fair supply chains; ecosystems and water.

To read the full report Green, Healthy and Fair – A review of the government’s role in supporting sustainable supermarket

food , visit www.sd-commission.org.uk