The John Lewis Partnership, parent company of John Lewis and Waitrose, has become the first UK retailer to have its net zero science-based targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The SBTi is the gold standard for setting and monitoring corporate climate targets. Its validation of John Lewis’ targets confirms the retailer is on track to hit net zero across its own operations by 2035 and across its wider supply chain by 2050.
“We know this is only the start,” said Simon Winch, environment lead at John Lewis Partnership. “The validation of our science-based targets will turbocharge the change needed in our business to transform how we operate and help ensure that the world remains in sight of limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 °C.”
The Partnership is the first retailer in the world to have validated SBTi science-based targets, that are focused on greenhouse gas emissions originating from ‘forests, land and agriculture’, which make up part of its total emission’s footprint. This is alongside the energy used to run its stores and make its products.
According to the company, its forests, land, and agriculture target underpins its Plan for Nature, published last autumn, which commits to a range of initiatives to significantly reduce the impact of its two businesses’ commercial activity on the natural world.
“To be the first retailer globally to set forest, land, and agriculture science-based targets gives us great pride. It will be the bedrock of our plans to protect and restore nature and tackle the climate crisis over the years to come.” added Marija Rompani, director of sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership.
The company’s latest sustainability report highlighted it has already made significant progress on its journey to net zero. In the past year alone, it reduced emissions across its operations by 29% and confirmed all electricity procured has been renewable certified.
In the future, the partnership is also planning circularity for all its own-brand product packaging across its two brands to be widely recyclable, reusable, or home compostable by 2023. As of the latest report, Waitrose sat at 92% while John Lewis lagged behind at 87%.
Other companies to be SBTi validated include multinational conglomerate, DuPont, UK and Ireland-based drinks company C&C Group, and telecommunications company, Telefónica.
