Woolworths: Progress on Ethical, Sustainable Sourcing

Woolworths Limited, Australia’s largest retailer, (once upon a time an American icon too) reports that it is making “continued progress” in reducing emissions and in sustainable sourcing policies for palm oil, timber and paper, and seafood. The company issued its 2011 corporate responsibility report in late November with the basic theme that it is getting “closer every day” to achieving its sustainability targets. The 64-page CSR, the retailer’s fourth, asserts that, “Both domestically and globally, Woolworths is quietly earning respect and recognition for the integrity and depth of its corporate responsibility programs, and through our close association with global organizations such as The Consumer Goods Forum and the United Nations Global Compact Network, we are at the forefront of debate and central to the positive change taking place in critical areas such as ethical sourcing.” The achievements touted in the report include: - A nearly 11 percent reduction in carbon emissions “compared to business as usual projections.” The report says AU$55.7 million ($57.2 million) has been invested in energy efficient since 2007, “which will deliver approximately AU$93 million ($95.5 million) savings by 2015. - A 16.3 percent reduction in carbon emissions per carton delivered by Woolworth’s-owned trucks, compared to the emissions per carton in 2007. - The launch of a “Reconciliation Action Plan” to advance opportunities for Indigenous Australians. The report says it is a “practical pathway” for greater inclusiveness in the company. - A 30 percent reduction in lost time and injury frequency. - AU$60 mill ($61.5 million) invested in employee learning and development training. The retailer is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and is committed to using only certified sustainable palm oil by 2015 for all of it private label products. Last year 100 percent of the fresh meat in the company’s Australian Supermarkets was sourced from Australian producers and 97.3 percent by weight (96.5 percent by value) of fresh fruit and vegetables was grown in Australia. Woolworths has a target of zero food waste by 2015; last year the company donated the equivalent more than 2 million meals to relief charity partners. The report was compiled using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1 Guidelines, underwent independent assurance by Net Balance Management Group, and achieved an A+ rating. Not bad at all for the world’s 20th ranked retailer based on sales revenue, with 190,723 employees and 414,591 shareholders. [Image Credit: Woolworth’s (Sicco2007’sphotostream), Flickr Creative Commons]" target="_blank">Woolworths Limited, Australia’s largest retailer, reports that it is making “continued progress” in reducing emissions and in sustainable sourcing policies for palm oil, timber and paper, and seafood. The company issued its 2011 corporate responsibility report in late November with the basic theme that it is getting “closer every day” to achieving its sustainability targets. Not bad at all for the world’s 20^th ranked retailer based on sales revenue, with 190,723 employees and 414,591 shareholders.   [Image Credit: Woolworth’s (Sicco2007’sphotostream), Flickr Creative Commons]