Carrefour and Tetra Pak outline their sustainable
energy strategies at EU conference

Carrefour, a world leading retailer, and Tetra Pak outlined their sustainable energy strategies at a conference they hosted here today where companies demonstrated a range of practical steps they are taking to reduce their carbon impact and at the same time raise awareness among consumers on climate change.

The conference, The Energy Challenge: Enhancing Efficiency through Best Practices and Partnerships,” was organised in partnership with the EU and is part of a number of events planned in Brussels and throughout Europe during EU Sustainable Energy Week.

Carrefour and Tetra Pak have pioneered a consumer awareness campaign in over 600 hypermarkets across Europe. The scheme, which was launched in early February, uses Carrefour-branded milk and juice - in specially designed Tetra Pak cartons which provide eco-tips to consumers. The products are on sale in stores in Spain, France, Belgium and Italy during EU Sustainable Energy Week (9-13 February 2009).

Commenting on the initiative Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs said: “We congratulate Carrefour and Tetra Pak for their contribution in creating greater awareness amongst consumers about how each and every one of us can contribute to sustainable consumption. Modern consumers are not ready to consume less, but they are ready to consume differently. And we need to guide them through with more information and education on their impact on environment and their important role in succeeding to achieve the 20% energy efficiency target for the EU by 2020.”

Tetra Pak, a member of WWF’s Climate Savers Programme, has increased the energy efficiency of its packaging material production by 23% since 2002 and is increasingly using certified green energy. To date six of Tetra Pak’s packaging material plants in Europe are using green energy or buying renewable energy certificates. Tetra Pak is thereby well on the way to reaching its objective of a 10% reduction of CO2 emissions in 2010 vs. 2005 in absolute terms.

Carrefour is making good progress in reducing energy consumption in stores and in working towards its objective of a 20% reduction by 2020 compared to 2004. It is deploying innovative energy management systems, energy saving lighting and closed freezer cabinets to achieve greater energy efficiency, with regular reporting to ensure it keeps on track with targets. Carrefour is also developing solutions for consumers such as the sale of green electricity to households and the growing offer of energy efficient products. Carrefour will also continue to raise supplier awareness and facilitate efforts to improve their environmental performance.

“Tackling climate change effectively needs joint efforts of governments and businesses collectively. We are committed to offer retailers, customers and consumers packaging solutions meeting the highest environmental standards”, said Claes Du Rietz, Vice-President Environment of the Tetra Pak Group. “Through the information it can carry, packaging can be influential in helping guide consumer behaviour“.

Véronique Discours-Buhot, Sustainability Director of the Carrefour Group commented: "As the leading European retailer, we are committed to driving energy efficiency through our operations and by offering consumers affordable solutions to enable them to reduce their energy bills. Our hypermarkets in Belgium, France and Italy have already achieved a more than 20% reduction in their energy consumption.* We are confident that together with our customers we can lower our impact on the environment and make significant savings too."

*per m² of sales area in 2008 compared to 2004

For more information please contact:

- Linda Bernier, Director Corporate PR, Tetra Pak + 39 348 145 4229

- Jane Fordham, GolinHarris for Tetra Pak +44 (0) 207 067 0622

- Emilie Prouzet, Public Affairs Advisor, Carrefour Group +32 472 600 274