We're beginning to see the first positive results from the light bulb retailers league table we published nearly two weeks ago. Both ASDA and Morrisons have just announced they will improve their game plan and phase out those power-crazy incandescents by the end of 2010, which moves them a couple of places up the league table, leapfrogging several other retailers.
They were languishing near the bottom with no commitment to get rid of inefficient bulbs, although the relatively low price of their efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) placed them ahead of wooden spoon winner Woolworths. The twin announcements puts them ahead of fellow F-graders Ikea and Somerfield, as well those hiding behind the weak and unambitious government voluntary target who will only be incandescent-free in 2011. So the table now looks like this.
We're still waiting to get the full details from ASDA, but Morrisons was "disappointed" it had been given such a low rating, and was keen to point out the new measures designed to shift shoppers over to CFLs. They're working on more promotions, more shelf space devoted to them, as well as phasing out incandescents with very high wattages by the end of this year.
The fact that two major supermarkets are breaking ranks with the rest and moving ahead of the government's advice shows that our campaign is working. But we want them to do better. Strip those shelves of energy-gobbling bulbs by the end of the year and you'll sit alongside Currys at the top of the league table. Go on, you know you can do it.
