• Our approach
• Our views: A - Z
• Our progress and performance
• Our community
• Our customers
• Our employees
• Our environment
• Our suppliers
• What you can do

Our views A - Z

As a Partnership, where employees are Partners or co-owners of the business, we can be ambitious in our policies, the way we work and the way we do business. We value the trust our customers have placed in us over the years as a result of taking a stand on issues that matter, and we are proud to be recognised today as leaders in corporate social responsibility (CSR). As a responsible retailer, it is important to communicate clearly what these issues are, how they impact our business, and the position we take.

A

Accessibility
Additives
Age-related sales
Animal derivatives
Animal fur
Animal testing
Animal welfare

C

Carrier bags
Charitable giving donation policy
Chemicals of concern
Child labour
Climate change
Community investment
Conflict diamonds

D

Donation policy, charitable giving
Diamonds, conflict

Accessibility

The John Lewis Partnership welcomes all customers: we are committed to ensuring that everyone can access our products and services. We treat our customers as individuals, responding to their particular needs. Shopping can be difficult for disabled customers if their needs aren't catered for: we aim to make the experience as easy and as pleasurable for them as for anyone else, and take all reasonable steps to ensure every customer receives the same high level of service.

The Partnership is committed to meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). We have integrated the principles of accessibility into the design, construction and operation of all our shops and continually strive to improve access and respond to customer feedback.

All our customer-facing Partners are trained to meet customer access needs and to help customers with their shopping. Our multi-channel approach shops, internet shopping, call centres and home delivery means everyone can access our goods and services in whichever way is easiest for them.

Website accessibility

Accessibility is just as important for our websites as it is for our shops. Read our online accessibility information .

• Johnlewis.com won an International Visual and Communication Association Award for its accessibility in 2004.
• Johnlewis.com won the 2005 UK Usability Professionals' Association award for 'Best retail website for online purchasing'. 
• John Lewis Peterborough was nominated for a Deafblind Friendly award, run by the charities Sense and Deafblind UK, in recognition of Partners efforts to meet the needs of customers with sight and hearing difficulties.  
• In 2004 we redesigned the Waitrose website  (www.waitrose.com) to make it accessible to users with disabilities by complying with the Royal National Institute for the Blinds 'See it Right' standards.

back to top

Additives

Food safety is a key priority for Waitrose. Waitrose's policy for our own brand products is to use natural flavourings and colourings in preference to synthetic/artificial additives.

back to top

Age-related sales

Society has deemed some product categories as unsuitable for young persons to purchase. To restrict their sale, retailers are required by law not to sell these products to persons under the prescribed age.

We take our duties as a responsible retailer very seriously and all our Partners are made aware of the need to watch out for under-age customers trying to buy products illegally, particularly knives, cigarettes and alcohol. We provide regular training to our Partners on proof-of-age identity documents.

back to top

Animal derivatives

John Lewis does not use species which are bred and slaughtered specifically for the purpose of producing non-food products. Some of our home and clothing products do contain animal derivatives such as leather and shearling. However, these are by-products of the food industry where the animals have been farmed primarily for their milk and meat. We do not source products where animal derivatives are unspecified.

back to top

Animal fur

Our animal welfare commitments include a strict ‘no fur’ policy, and support of both the Fur Free Retailers initiative and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Internal systems ensure that our suppliers do not supply items that contain real fur, and that they provide credible assurances that faux fur (including trim and accessories) is indeed not real animal fur.

Our suppliers are also required to demonstrate compliance with our Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice, which includes points on animal welfare as well as labour rights, working conditions and the environment.

back to top

Animal testing

Even though the UK stopped licensing animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients in 1998, more than 35,000 animals in the European Union alone are used for testing cosmetics and toiletries every year. The John Lewis Partnership believes such practices are unethical and unnecessary and should be banned. Waitrose has been a corporate sponsor of FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments) since 1996.

Our own brands

We do not test our own label cosmetics, toiletries, baby care or personal care products on animals, nor do we commission others to do so on our behalf. We operate a strict purchasing rule that ensures we do not buy any ingredient or product that has been tested on animals for cosmetic purposes by our own-label suppliers since 1990 in the case of Waitrose, and 1996 in the case of John Lewis.

Our own-label suppliers are required to complete a declaration that they adhere to our requirements on product and ingredient testing.

Supplier brands

Our branded suppliers have their own policies; however we encourage them to adopt an approach similar to our own-brand product policy.

back to top

Animal welfare

At Waitrose, traceability and animal welfare go hand in hand. We know precisely where our food comes from, that it has been produced to the highest standards, and that each of our suppliers respects their livestock. Waitrose is committed to providing the best conditions for animals at all stages of the supply chain, and to combating cruel practices.

• Farmers : we know every farmer who supplies every pack of our British pork, bacon and sausages.
• Our own farm : we own our own farm in Hampshire, the Leckford Estate , which supplies food to our Waitrose shops.
• Buying British : where possible we buy British: all fresh pork (including that sold as sausages), beef, poultry and bacon is British, as is all our own-brand dairy produce. All of our turkeys come from the UK or Ireland.
• Beef : we know the parentage and history of the Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle that supply our beef. All Waitrose beef comes from animals born and reared by a select group of British farmers who are committed to keeping their cattle happy and healthy.
• Lamb : our lambs, supplied in season from Farm Assured sites in England, Wales and New Zealand, are reared in open pastures.
• Pork : our organic pig farmers raise their animals outdoors with access to well aired shelters full of fresh straw bedding, and feed them an organic diet.
• Fish : we are leading the way in promoting more sustainable fishing practices .  By having full traceability for all our fish we can be certain we do not sell any illegally caught fish, preventing the undermining of fish conservation measures. We have switched to line fishing for supplies of cod and haddock and also introduced initiatives to make it easier for customers to identify and buy sustainably-sourced fish.
• Chicken : All Waitrose chickens including Select Farm, Free Range and Organic are UK-hatched and reared. We know all our farmers and can trace each bird back to its original farm. We do not sell standard intensively reared chicken and our entry level chickens (Waitrose Select Farm) are reared to a high standard of welfare. Select Farm chickens are reared in purpose built houses with big windows which let in plenty of natural light, and at night the birds get six full hours of darkness, 50 per cent more 'rest time' than the industry standard. Select Farm chickens also get plenty of air via high levels of ventilation and, because they are stocked at a 20 per cent lower level than the industry standard, have the freedom to move around with access to straw bales for environment enrichment and stimulation.  For more information on Waitrose chickens visit the Waitrose website  (www.waitrose.com).
• Eggs and milk : we know the origin of every own-label free-range egg and pint of milk, and all our own label dairy produce, including any dairy ingredients used in own-label yoghurts, dairy ice-cream, milk, cream, cheddar and butter is British. All our own-label eggs have been free-range since 2000 and a third of these are organic. Waitrose is the only supermarket whose own-label eggs meet the Soil Association's organic standards ( www.soilassociation.org ). We include only free-range eggs in all our own-label chilled and frozen food. We were the first supermarket to refuse to sell fresh eggs laid by hens kept in cages in 2001.

In 2010, our dedication to animal welfare earned us the 'Compassionate Supermarket of the Year' title from leading animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming (CIWF). We have previously been awarded this title twice in a row, in 2004 and 2006, and came top in the supermarket category in the RSPCA Good Business Awards in 2005 and 2007. Our high standards of chicken welfare as earned us a 'Good Chicken Award' from CIWF in 2010, and our policy of not selling caged eggs gained a 'Good Egg Award' from CIWF in 2007.

back to top

Carrier bags

Providing disposable plastic carrier bags free to our customers has an impact on the environment and costs the Partnership money. While we need to provide bags for customers to take their purchases home, we are keen to reduce demand for plastic carrier bags and offer environmentally responsible alternatives.

As a signatory to a national Voluntary Code of Practice on Carrier Bags in February 2007, we have been working with the Government-funded Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP) and other retailers to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 50% by Spring 2009. We are please to announce that overall, we have achieved this target with a 50% reduction target. This has contributed to the significant 48% collective reduction achieved by all signatories of the agreement.

This reduction has been accomplished through a number of initiatives. Our efforts have included:

• promoting our Waitrose Bag for Life – which costs 10p and is replaced free of charge when damaged or worn out, with returned bags being recycled with other plastic into outdoor furniture, among other things,
• selling reusable jute bags,
• introducing bags made from 33% recycled material that carry stronger messaging about reuse and recycling,
• pilot schemes for bag-free ‘green tills’ and making our Saffron Walden shop completely carrier-bag-free for two weeks.

We are committed to continuing our focus on Partner training which will include keeping mainline checkouts visibly clear of carrier bags, and asking customers with smaller transactions if they need a bag. Partner training alongside improved signage reminding customers to remember their Bags For Life, in store trials has shown a reduction in carrier bag use of between 45% and 60%. As a result these two initiatives were rolled out across all of our stores in September 2008. Although feedback to green tills and bagless shops was positive and the trial extended, they have not brought the sustained reductions needed to meet our targets, so we will focus on our other initiatives such as Partner training and customer awareness.

'Bag for Life'

We handed out nearly 4 million Bags for Life in 2007, an increase of 63%. The bag has saved around 80 million plastic bags a year since it was introduced in 1997, and will soon be made from 100% recycled material.

‘Bag for Life' - Waitrose was the first supermarket to introduce a plastic 'Bag for Life' in 1997. Sold to customers for 10p, bags are replaced free of charge once they are worn out. All bags returned are recycled into plaswood furniture, damp proof membranes etc, which Waitrose often donates to shops or local community groups. We handed out nearly 4 million Waitrose Bags for Life in 2007, an increase of 63%. The bag has saved around 80 million plastic bags a year since it was introduced in 1997, and will soon be made from 100% recycled material.

Quick Check - Customers who register with Waitrose’s Quick Check facility, offered in almost 50% of our shops are also provided with free reusable Quick Check bags when they register using the John Lewis Partnership credit card. For customers using an alternative credit card these bags are offered for purchase. These are made from jute.

back to top

Charitable giving donation policy

Read about our donation policy.

back to top

Chemicals of concern

The last few years have seen growing evidence to suggest that some chemicals contained in everyday products may have long-term effects on our health or the environment. Although they may be safe to use, they may contain, or be manufactured using, chemicals that remain in the environment for longer than was first suspected. 

In line with REACH (Regulation, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals) legislation which seeks more effective ways of testing the impacts of all chemicals involved in European manufacturing processes, and to reassure our customers, we have developed our own risk-based strategy for dealing with chemicals of concern. This ensures that only essential chemicals are used in our products, and, if they are used, that they have been used responsibly, with clear instructions on their safe use and disposal.

back to top

Child labour

The John Lewis Partnership believes that all children under the age of 15, regardless of where they live, should have the opportunity to be in full-time education, and should not have to work for a living. Our John Lewis Partnership Code of Practice requires all our suppliers to make a firm commitment not to employ children.

Our Code of Practice states that:

• No children under the age of 15 (or older if stated by local laws) should be employed
• Workers aged between 15 and 18 should not work at night or in hazardous conditions
• If children are found to be working, the employer should provide appropriate remediation, which may include support to attend education
• The supplier should have a clear policy for dealing with under-age workers, even if none are employed.

Should any instance of child labour be identified, as a responsible retailer, we would work closely with our suppliers to develop a sensitive and sustainable solution that puts the welfare of the child first.

See our position on responsible sourcing  for how we ensure our Code of Practice is carried out by suppliers.

back to top

Climate change

With rising global temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and with gas and electricity prices increasing, the John Lewis Partnership recognises the importance of reducing both our energy consumption and our carbon dioxide emissions.

Both John Lewis and Waitrose have publicly committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions for all UK operations by 10 per cent by 2010, 20 per cent by 2020 and 60 per cent by 2050 (relative to our trading pattern in 2001). As a growing business our absolute emissions are rising, however as a result of a strict carbon management programme we are reducing emissions relative to trading patterns, with both John Lewis and Waitrose currently exceeding the 2010 reduction target.

Reinforcing this commitment, the Partnership joined the Corporate Leaders' Group on Climate Change, part of HRH The Prince of Wales's Business & the Environment Programme. The Group brings together business leaders from major UK and international companies who believe that there is an urgent need to develop new and longer-term policies for tackling climate change. 

The Partnership is also representing the Institute of Grocery Distribution and the retail sector on the British Standards Institute (BSI) group alongside the Carbon Trust and Defra, which will establish standards for calculating a product's or service's total carbon footprint from source to store.

Find out more about how we are reducing emissions and energy consumption.

To find out what your carbon footprint is, visit the Government's new Act on CO ^₂ Calculator . The website also outlines the actions we can all take in our everyday lives to help tackle climate change.

back to top

Community investment

Our Constitution  states that the John Lewis Partnership 'aims to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law, and to contribute to the well-being of the communities in which it operates'. We believe in working with local communities, and our shops actively forge links with local schools, organisations and community groups. We encourage Partners to get involved where their knowledge of local community needs can bring greater benefit both to business and to society.

The main objectives of our community investment programmes are:

• To bring our Principles  to life
• To provide effective help to improve and support local communities
• To make Partners proud of their work in the community
• To offer Partners the opportunity to broaden their skills through community activities
• To help recruit Partners and keep them with us by making them proud of how we work.

Find out more about our community involvement .

back to top

Conflict diamonds

Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded by rebel movements to finance conflict (particularly in central and western Africa) against legitimate governments. Conflict diamonds particularly captured the world's attention during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s and there has been recent interest in this issue following the release of the film 'Blood Diamonds' starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

In 2002, an inter-governmental agreement called the Kimberley Process Certification System was established to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds. Since the Kimberley Process was established, conflict diamonds have been reduced from approximately 4 per cent to considerably less than 1 per cent.

As a retailer of fine jewellery and diamonds, John Lewis takes this issue very seriously. We require all our suppliers of diamond products to only buy diamonds and diamond jewellery from suppliers which can put a 'conflict free' warrantee on their invoices. Where suppliers are sourcing from old, second-hand or antique jewellery we require suppliers to provide us with written assurance that they do not knowingly sell conflict diamonds.

back to top

Related pages