Tesco accused of using electronic armbands to monitor its staff
Tesco workers are being made to wear electronic armbands that managers use to grade how hard they are working. The armbands are worn by warehouse staff and forklift drivers, who use them to scan the stock they collect from supermarket distribution points and send it out for delivery. Tesco said the armbands are used to improve efficiency and save its staff from having to carry around pens and paper to keep track of deliveries. However, an ex-member of staff has claimed that the devices are also being used to keep an eye on employees’ work rates. The whistleblower also claimed that workers were reprimanded by management for taking unscheduled toilet breaks. (Independent, Telegraph)
Supply Chain
Nestlé boss addresses supply chain risk factors
Nestlé chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, has identified wasteful agricultural practices as a "major challenge" to tackle within the company’s global supply chain. Highlighting the fact that around one-third of food grown for human consumption is lost or wasted globally every year, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe said these losses were now posing a risk to food production levels. "We need to find more sustainable agricultural production methods that increase production, while wasting less, and without turning natural ecosystems into areas of new farm land," he urged. He also highlighted the need to address water use in the sector, as agriculture accounts for 70 percent of world water withdrawals. (Edie)
Australian sustainable tuna campaign nets Woolworths
Following an ongoing campaign, by Greenpeace Australia, the country’s biggest retailer, Woolworths, has committed to supporting sustainable tuna fishing. As such, over 90 percent of the national canned tuna market will be responsibly sourced. By the end of this year, all of Woolworths 'Select' tuna will be caught one-by-one with a pole and line, and by 2015 the rest of its 'Home Brand’ tuna will be caught without using harmful Fish Attracting Devices (FADs). Apart from Aldi, every major supermarket and retailer in Australia is now committed to responsible fishing. Only the UK tuna market can boast this level of commitment to responsible sourcing. (Greenpeace)
Environment
London plans world’s first ultra-low emission zone
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced plans to create the world's first ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ in central London, in an attempt to dramatically improve air quality in the capital. The mayor has asked Transport for London to prepare plans for introducing a scheme that would aim to ensure all vehicles driving in the city centre during working hours would be zero or low emission. Mr Johnson said that his vision was “a central zone where almost all the vehicles running during working hours are either zero or low emission. This would deliver incredible benefits in air quality and stimulate the delivery and mass use of low emission technology." New hybrid buses will also be introduced, and possibilities for a fleet of low-emissions taxis is also to be explored. (Edie, Evening Standard, BBC)
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