Tesco addresses use of soya in poultry feed

The Plan focuses on people, products – including sourcing, health and food waste – and places. It highlights its commitment to sustainable sourcing and working in partnership, saying it is replicating its ten year old Sustainable Dairy Group to its poultry producer group.

Tesco is also addressing the sustainability challenges in its top 20 products and ingredients, including chicken and eggs and the use of soya in poultry diets.

Most of the soya in poultry feed is grown in South America and is linked with deforestation in the region, and the company said it was working hard with its direct supply chain partners and broader stakeholders (NGOs and industry groups) to source soya in a way that makes it economically feasible, socially beneficial and safeguards the environment.

Tesco is a member of the Round Table Responsible Soy and as part of the Consumer Goods Forum, it said it was committed to achieving zero-net deforestation in its sourcing of soya by 2020.

Poultry products are also a considerable source of food waste and the Plan sets out an ambitious target to help half food waste from farm to fork by 2030 to help align itself with Sustainable Development Goals.

Dave Lewis, Tesco group chief executive, said as a leader food retailer, the food it produced and its sourcing mattered: “Our suppliers tell us they value long-term partnerships and want to work together to offer customers truly sustainable products now and in the future.”