Aeon Aims to Curb CO2 Emissions by 30% in 6 Years

Aeon Co., a major Japanese supermarket operator, announced the "Aeon Manifesto on the Prevention of Global Warming" on March 14, 2008, becoming the first retailer in Japan to set a specific target for reducing CO2 emissions. The Manifesto defines the company's goal of cutting CO2 emissions by 30 percent from fiscal 2006 levels by fiscal 2012, which represents an estimated reduction of 1.85 million tons of CO2.

To achieve this goal Aeon will implement several measures:
-Develop an "Eco Store" capable of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent and ensure that all shopping centers opened in and after fiscal 2009 will be Eco Stores;
-Install photovoltaic power generation system in 200 new and existing stores by fiscal 2012;
-Curtail CO2 emissions from its product distribution operation;
-Discontinue the free distribution of plastic shopping bags in more of its stores;
-Replace fossil fuel-derived packaging materials with biomass plastic ones; and
-Reduce the weight of packaging materials.

Meanwhile, in 2003, Aeon co-financed the establishment of Adelaide Blue Gum Pty Ltd. (ABL), a forestation enterprise in Adelaide, Australia. By joining the ABL's integrated program of planting, cultivating and logging trees systematically, Aeon is planning to secure carbon credits through the Kyoto Mechanism.

http://www.aeon.info/en/pressroom/imgsrc/080314R.pdf
- Aeon Introduces MSC-Labeled Seafood at 660 Stores (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1643-e
- Supermarket Aeon Starts Charging for Plastic Shopping Bags in Kyoto (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1678-e

Posted: 2008/07/21 05:49:55 PM