Many of the most environmentally aware companies are starting to get to grips with the impact of their own operations...But it does not stop there - very few businesses generate more carbon in their own operations than are generated through the goods and services they buy, according to Richard Mattison, managing director of Trucost..."For retailers, their suppliers have a carbon footprint of about 30 times their own," he says...The first step is to gather information - the most high-profile example of this is Wal-Mart's recent move to make its suppliers gather information on emissions...[also refers to Tesco, British Land, BT, Boots (now Alliance Boots, part of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)]