Supermarket giant Tesco has teamed up with the University of Manchester to set up a research centre looking at ways to turn shoppers green.

The £25m Sustainable Consumption Institute will consider how individuals can be encouraged to buy green products and services, how business can adapt to meet customer needs and how to train the next generation of environmental leaders and experts. Its research and conclusions will be shared freely.

Projects already under way include research into low carbon lifestyles and the role of new technologies in delivering them, and outcomes could range from making paper from chicken feathers and fuelling delivery vans with plastic milk bottles.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said the institute was further proof of the company’s long-term commitment to making a positive contribution to tackling environmental issues.

Sam Bond

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