John Lewis Sustainability Review

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John Lewis qZERO® Sustainability Score

3.5 / 5.0

Advanced Sustainability *

November 20, 2024

About John Lewis

Headquarters: 171 Victoria Street SW1E 5NN LONDON United Kingdom
Country: United Kingdom United Kingdom

The John Lewis brand, part of the John Lewis Partnership Plc, is a well-regarded British retailer known for high-quality products and exceptional customer service. Established in 1864, it has grown into a significant player in the retail sector, providing a wide range of products including clothing, homeware, and electronics. The brand is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing, ensuring that its products align with modern environmental standards. Customers appreciate the reliability and innovation that John Lewis consistently delivers, making it a household name across the United Kingdom.

John Lewis Sustainability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0

This means John Lewis are well-above average compared to other companies in the Food Retailers & Distributors.

Industry positioning

John Lewis
Industry average
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.5
2.8
Overall
2.4
3.3
Environmental
3.7
4.0
Social
3.4
3.6
Governance

John Lewis positioning within the Food Retailers & Distributors

Main Sustainability Issues in the Food Retailers & Distributors Industry

The Food Retailers & Distributors industry grapples with several sustainability concerns, such as reducing carbon emissions, sustainable sourcing, and waste management. Social issues focus on fair labour practices and community engagement, while governance priorities include transparency and ethical business practices.

Comparing John Lewis Sustainability to Industry Standards

John Lewis demonstrates moderate competency in sustainability with room for improvement. In environmental efforts, John Lewis falls below industry expectations. Socially, John Lewis performs adequately but trails slightly behind the sector at large. Governance at John Lewis is respectable, yet still does not meet the higher standards set by the industry benchmark.

How does John Lewis focus on You?

John Lewis, by John Lewis Partnership PLC, offers a wide array of products, including clothing, home furnishings, electrical appliances, and beauty items. Known for their quality and style, these products cater to diverse consumer needs, ensuring an elegant and functional shopping experience.

Balancing Affordability and Sustainability

John Lewis tackles the challenge of affordability versus sustainability by integrating eco-friendly practices throughout their supply chain and product life cycles. They offer sustainable products at varying price points to ensure accessibility for all budgets. For instance, they may source materials that have minimal environmental impact, such as organic cotton or recycled materials, while also adopting energy-efficient manufacturing processes. By investing in long-lasting quality, they encourage customers to make mindful purchases, which reduces the need for frequent replacements and thereby supports a more sustainable consumption model. Through these measures, John Lewis carefully balances affordability with a commitment to sustainability.

John Lewis Sustainability Rating Breakdown:

John Lewis Overall Sustainability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0

Sustainable Initiatives by John Lewis

John Lewis is dedicated to a sustainable future through several unique initiatives that set it apart. It champions the circular economy by offering take-back and recycling schemes, allowing customers to responsibly discard unwanted products. The company is heavily invested in sustainable sourcing, ensuring materials used in products, like cotton and wood, come from trusted and environmentally friendly sources. Moreover, John Lewis is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by targeting zero waste to landfill and improving energy efficiency across its stores. These efforts illustrate its ongoing commitment to creating a positive environmental impact.

John Lewis Environmental Rating is 2.4 out of 5.0

Environmental Practices Summary

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP PLC (John Lewis) shows notable strength in harnessing environmental opportunities, indicating a forward-thinking approach to sustainable practices. These opportunities likely contribute positively towards enhancing other environmental areas and should continue to be a focal point of their strategy. However, the company faces significant challenges with its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This aspect of their sustainability practice could greatly benefit from additional resources and initiatives to mitigate environmental impact. Overall, while John Lewis demonstrates potential for environmentally sustainable growth, there's a need for improvement in reducing their GHG emissions footprint.

John Lewis Social Rating is 3.7 out of 5.0

Social Practices Overview

John Lewis demonstrates strong competency in its social practices, with outstanding performance in products and services, as well as diversity and inclusion. These areas reflect a significant commitment to delivering high-quality offerings while prioritising inclusivity. Social-related certifications and corporate philanthropy also show considerable support, indicative of efforts to enhance social impact and organisational involvement in societal welfare. However, labour relations lag behind, suggesting room for improvement in employee engagement and satisfaction. A moderate score in cyber risk management highlights the need for enhanced security measures to safeguard data privacy. Overall, John Lewis maintains robust social practices with identified areas for advancement.

John Lewis Governance Rating is 3.4 out of 5.0

Governance Practices Summary of John Lewis Partnership PLC

John Lewis Partnership PLC displays robust governance practices in several areas, particularly in business resilience and sustainability, as well as business transparency, both of which are shining examples of their governance strength. The company maintains a high standard of transparency, significantly contributing to its overall governance framework. However, there are notable gaps in other areas. Specifically, board accountability signifies a critical area for improvement, requiring attention to enhance governance practices comprehensively. The scores suggest a balanced mix of strengths and challenges, highlighting the need for targeted initiatives to bolster board-related governance aspects.

What makes John Lewis stand out in the Industry?

 John Lewis is well-known for its commitment to exceptional customer service and premium product range across various categories. The brand emphasises quality and value, ensuring that products are carefully selected to meet diverse customer needs. John Lewis also offers excellent after-sales service, including extended warranties and a reliable returns policy, which builds strong customer trust. The brand is recognised for innovative designs and sustainable practices, contributing to a positive shopping experience. With a partnership business model that invests in employees, John Lewis benefits from a motivated workforce dedicated to enhancing customer satisfaction.

So is John Lewis sustainable?

Understanding John Lewis's Sustainability Efforts

John Lewis Partnership PLC, known for its retail environments, is making efforts to better its environmental, social, and governance practices. By focusing on sustainability, the company seeks to address issues that matter to conscientious shoppers. Let's break down what this means for you.

In the environmental domain, John Lewis is working on reducing its ecological impact but still has room for improvement compared to leading benchmarks. This might include initiatives to minimise waste or promote energy efficiency.

When it comes to the social aspect, John Lewis demonstrates a stronger commitment. This includes ensuring fair treatment of workers, engaging with communities, and providing positive labour practices. These actions contribute to a more equitable society and can have positive impacts for everyone involved, from producers to consumers.

On governance, or how the company is managed, John Lewis shows reasonable practices reflecting accountability and transparency in operations. This gives customers more confidence in the way the company runs its business.

For shoppers keen on supporting sustainable brands, John Lewis offers reasonable efforts in corporate responsibility, with ongoing work to enhance its contributions to sustainability and ethical retailing.

John Lewis Certifications List


John Lewis Supports These Sustainable Development Goals


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