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Article

7 Feb 2012

Author:
Ben Miller, Ecologist [UK]

Co-operative, M&S and Waitrose accused of greenwash over close links to 'unethical' companies

Seemingly ethical companies like The Co-operative, M&S and Waitroise have been accused of double-standards over their partnerships with oil giants like BP, Shell and Chevron...Greg Muttitt, campaigns and policy director at...War on Want, said: '...The fact these companies are doing deals with unethical businesses shows how limited their ethical commitments are...'...[A]n M&S spokesperson, said: 'Our relationship is with BP Retail and we work closely with them on a number of aspects...including waste management and community links...We do not work with any other part of BP...'...Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s economic relations programme director, said: '...Conducting due diligence on the co-branding implications of a link-up with Shell would be a sensible move for Waitrose in light of public concerns around Shell's track record on human rights and the environment.'...A Waitrose spokesperson [said] 'Waitrose takes our ethical commitments very seriously. While we don't think it's appropriate that we comment at length on Shell's business, we know they share concerns over the people of the Niger Delta...'...A spokesperson for the Co-operative Group responded...'Fuel at our Texaco-branded forecourts has been supplied by Valero since 1 August 2011...We no longer source any fuel from Texaco’s former parent company, Chevron...' [also refers to Interbrand London]