17/11/2011 (Purcon) - People in procurement jobs at Asda have been instrumental in helping the firm to save over £70 million last year.

The supermarket, which is owned by US retail giant Walmart, says it has eliminated 149,000 tonnes of carbon from its supply chain, beating its current target by four years.

It also forecast that sustainability schemes being initiated now will result in £800 milliion cumulative savings by 2020.

Asda also restated its aim to purchase 100 per cent of palm oil from sources certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil by the end of 2015.

In addition, the firm plans to increase the value of products procured from local suppliers to £500 million by the end of 2013.

Paul Kelly, external affairs director at Asda, comments: "Our approach to sustainability is based on the belief that protecting the environment and saving people money go hand in hand. Wasting resources is a waste of money – and we hate waste of any kind."