Tesco, a popular supermarket, faces accusations of greenwashing for continuing to sell Brazilian meat, even after promising to ban it due to deforestation concerns. The company had previously committed to discontinuing sales of Brazilian beef, chicken, and pork in an effort to prevent deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

However, recent findings by campaigners reveal the presence of Brazilian chicken in Tesco stores, leading to calls for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to probe into the matter. These activists believe Tesco might have breached the regulator's Green Claims Code by possibly making misleading statements.

Gemma Hoskins, Mighty Earth UK's director, urged the CMA to scrutinize the difference between Tesco's declarations and their actions, hinting that the supermarket might be engaging in greenwashing.

In response, a Tesco representative stated, “The chicken product outlined is from a small, branded supplier and should not have been listed in our stores. We deeply regret this genuine oversight. We've engaged the supplier to address the issue.” The representative also mentioned that they'd be reiterating their sourcing requirements related to Brazilian meat to all suppliers.

Is the Amazon at the Mercy of Tesco?This incident isn't Tesco's first encounter with campaigners targeting its potential ties to deforestation. Earlier this year, in April, Mighty Earth connected certain chicken and pork products sold by Tesco to illegal fires and deforestation of a substantial area in Brazil's Mato Grosso region. The extent of deforestation was compared to the size of over "560 Wembley football pitches", equating to the loss of "more than 220,000 trees."

A subsequent development saw Tesco, along with Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, report the introduction of 42,000 tonnes of deforestation-free soy from Brazil into their supply chains. Commenting on the effort, Tesco's CEO, Ken Murphy, expressed the supermarket's long-standing efforts to combat deforestation. He reaffirmed Tesco's commitment to sourcing only deforestation-free soy by 2025.

Murphy emphasized the importance of supporting Brazilian farmers who are committed to producing zero deforestation soy and preserving native vegetation.

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Sources: https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/09/tesco-greenwash-deforestation/