TAIWAN: Carrefour, Geant sign deal to cut energy use

International retailers Carrefour and GEANT have pledged to cut energy consumption in their Taiwan stores by up to 8% within the next three years.

The firms were among seven food and retail companies, including Taiwan Sugar, RT-Mart and Costco, to sign a letter of intent with Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy. The seven account for more than 90% of the country’s retail sales and the move is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 37,000 metric tons.

Taiwan imports 98% of its energy and is seeking to reduce consumption, said Su Chen Weng, head of energy conservation at the ministry.

“We are also hoping that the general public will see what these businesses are doing and be influenced by their practices,” she told just-food today (16 July).

The Bureau of Energy launched the same project with five major convenience stores last year.

Carrefour Taiwan could not be reached to comment. The company is already using low-energy light bulbs and improving insulation in new buildings to cut energy consumption.