Emission statement: Sharp increases in the cost of energy have forced the heavy corporate consumers to review how they source it, pay for it and use it, writes Camilla Berens. Can the rest of the business world afford not to follow their lead?

Financial Management (Chartered Institude of Management Accountants), June, 2006 by Berens, Camilla

When Sir Terry Leahy recently declared Tesco's retention to spend 100m [pounds sterling]on developing environmentally friendly energy sources for its stores and distribution centres he was throwing down a green gauntlet not only to direct competitors in the supermarket industry but to every brand leader in the FTSE 100. Environmental groups may have been only mildly enthused by Leahy's announcement reminding us that his company still pollutes the air with its long-distance haulage operations but credit must be given where it's due.

The recent sharp increase in energy bills could encourage companies to take up his challenge. While costs are high there is more incentive for them to focus on energy efficiency and, for the more intrepid, on ways of reducing their...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Premium Content Partnership | HighBeam Research provides an in-depth online archive library of reference works.