(Picture from here)

Food Navigator Europe had this article yesterday about Friends of the Earth took a strategic shot at Tesco's CSR practices ahead of its annual general meeting.

Following months of bad press over landbank practices, an irresponsible approach to environmental issues and the monopolisation of Britain's grocery market, Tesco has worked hard to change its image.

Last month the firm announced it will join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to help the industry identify responsible sourcing methods that will better protect South East Asian orangutans and their rainforest habitats.

But FoE insists the company is doing very little in practice to adopt greener sourcing, distribution and expansion policies at home and abroad.

"Rather than becoming a green and socially responsible company, Tesco is using every trick in the book to dominate the retail market and coerce local authorities," said FoE supermarket campaigner Sandra Bell.

"Tesco's expansion may be good news for shareholders, but it comes at a devastating cost for farmers, communities and the environment," she added.

In other CSR news ...

*Social Funds points to a Swiss study that says job creation is the key indicator of corporate social responsibility, which I think we'd highlighted here before.

*Express Hospitality talks social responsibility for hotels in India.

*The 'Homeless' World Cup is coming to Australia.

*Rabobank Group has just published its Sustainability Report 2005, which can be found at CSR News Net.

*A group called 'Just Tea' has been formed in India to make tea drinkers more aware of social and environmental implications of the tea trade.

*At Core77 ...

Q: What do you call it when the second richest man in the world gives 85% of his personal fortune to the richest man in the world?

A: A start.

*More opinion on the Buffett gift at the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

*Shareholders, CSR and the bottom line. How do companies satisfy all three?

*The auto industry needs carbon trading, says the Financial Times.

*Tune into the Good Company radio program Thursdays and Saturdays ...

*More and more clients are demanding that environmental, ethical, social and governance issues are incorporated into their investment decisions. Also, recent news on ethics and social responsibility in the accounting practices.

*The CSR Academy hopes to turn rhetoric to reality.

*The changing expectations of 'the company' ... at the Washington Post.