The Co-operative Group has accused its rivals of "lazy thinking" on environmental issues.

This week the society announced plans to consult its four million members on the development of an ethical food policy.

Launching the initiative, Co-op Group chief executive officer Peter Marks said: "We are determined not to pursue lazy thinking, such as aeroplane logos on air-freighted produce, and instead take a more considered approach - one consistent with a business that was founded to tackle responsible retailing."

The poll, in the form of a questionnaire, will ask members to consider "truly sustainable" positions and to not consider issues in isolation, Marks said.

For example, reducing food miles could have a social impact on third world growers, while reducing packaging could create toxicity concerns, he added.

His comments will ruffle the feathers of both Tesco and Marks & Spencer, which launched air freight labels on food packaging this year as part of highly-publicised eco-plans.

M&S introduced air freight logos on food imported to the UK by air on more than 20 products in March this year, with plans to increase this to more than 150 products by the end of the year. Tesco put an aeroplane symbol on all its air-freighted produce.

Tesco hit back at the comments, saying: "We have introduced measures to combat climate change. We have restricted air freight to no more than 1% of our imports, with a bias on developing countries. Does this sound lazy?"

Marks & Spencer declined to comment.

The Co-op Group said its survey, designed to help the society set out its ethical priorities for the next three to five years, was a first for a food retailer and represented the largest poll of ethics ever undertaken in the UK.

Members will be asked to prioritise issues such as climate change, packaging reduction, healthy eating, food labelling, Fairtrade, animal welfare, sustainable sourcing and community support.

"This consultation with our members reinforces our unique approach to responsible retailing," added Marks. "It will be a constant means of obtaining a mandate for our actions."

Topics