Royal appeal for green suppliers

Prince Charles' comment came as he gave the key-note speech at the Consumer Goods Forum in London yesterday where he also called on delegates to change their way of working to help tackle a range of problems from low fish stocks to the threat posed to rainforests by livestock farmers.

The heir to the throne told the senior managers gathered around him: "You really do stand at the bridging point between the maintenance of natural ecosystems, the products dependent upon their healthy functioning and the food security of future generations.

"Things have changed radically since we were all younger and everything was taken for granted. You can now make all the difference. You can make a difference by educating the consumer – not just about what to buy, but how to avoid waste."

"Without your commitment and energy, believe me, there will be no change. And 'no change' is not an option."