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Summary

John Lewis Partnership has launched its 2016 Annual Report and Accounts including a sustainability performance review, accompanied by a more detailed online sustainability report. 
 

Report Highlights

John Lewis Partnership has launched its 2016 Annual Report and Accounts including a sustainability performance review, accompanied by a more detailed online sustainability report. 
 
Report Highlights for 2015/16
The reports consider what the world will be like in 2028, 100 years from when the Partnership’s Founder, John Spedan Lewis, took over the business from his father and began setting up a trust that would allow his staff to become 'Partners' in the business.  Trends considered include the proliferation of technology, resource scarcity, climate change, and health and wealth inequality and their impact on society, the workplace and the retail environment.  

At http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/csr.html the Partnership reports on its material sustainability issues, its targets, priorities and achievements in 2015/16, reflecting on what the trends will mean for the way it operates its business.  Underpinning its approach to Responsible Business is its Constitution – a set of Rules and Principles first produced in 1928 by its Founder.  These cover responsibilities to customers, suppliers, the environment and communities and include ‘Principle 1’ at its centre – ‘the happiness’ of its employees or ‘Partners’.

Key Sustainability Achievements:

• Investment of £12,225,309 in community organisations, equivalent to 4% of pre-tax profits
• The Waitrose Foundation celebrated its 10th year, having reached over 100,000 people in its Waitrose’s fresh produce supply chains and launched a first-of-its kind partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation
• Over 3,000 schools, nurseries and children’s groups registered with John Lewis’s flagship educational programme – Bringing Skills to Life
• Reduced energy consumption per ft2 of trading floor area by 5%
• Reduced Waitrose’s refrigeration emissions by 17.5%
• Reduced Waitrose’s total food waste generated by 11.2%
• Achieved its target to divert 98% of our operational waste from landfill and increased recycling to 66.4%
• Focused on lowering sugar content of soft drinks
• Awarded MSC Best Fish Counter for the second year
• Awarded Compassion in World Farming Retailer of the Year Award (EU) for the fifth time
• Completed a detailed review of its approach to Human Rights in its supply chains and produced its inaugural human rights report – available on the site
• 91,500 Partners (employees) received a Bonus of 10% - equivalent to more than 5 weeks’ pay
• Expanded the company’s diversity networks to encompass: Pride in the Partnership (the LGBT+); Faith and Belief; Unity (Black and Minority Ethnic); and TEN: Think Evolve Network (gender)

The Partnership has strengthened its governance arrangements with the appointment of a sub-committee of the Board – the Corporate Responsibility Committee.  This Committee is chaired by a Non-Executive Director and will make recommendations to the Board in respect of the Partnership’s Corporate Responsibility Policy and objectives.  Earlier this year, Dame Fiona Reynolds joined the Committee, bringing with her a wealth of corporate responsibility experience and bolstering its independence.  Of her appointment, Dame Fiona says: "I am delighted to have been selected to join the Committee and I look forward to working with the Partnership on these vitally important issues".