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Waitrose is the only supermarket to sell only free-range turkey outside the Christmas period and our free-range ducks have access to water for swimming.


Waitrose continually works to increase the compaction of its laundry cleaning formulas, having compacted formulas twice in the last four years, reducing packaging and altering consumers’ washing habits. The division also subscribes to the AISE charter for sustainable cleaning and uses its logos in consumer education about laundry washing behaviour. We also encourage lower washing temperatures through front-of-pack messages.


A web-based farm traceability system operated and independently verified allows Waitrose to monitor animal welfare Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set for our continental cured and cooked meat supply chain.


(Photo of Heather Jenkins)

HEATHER JENKINS

Director of Meat, Poultry, Fish, Frozen Food and Dairy Buying and Agriculture Strategy

"Waitrose has funded the creation of a Chair of Sustainable Agriculture at Aberystwyth University. This academic post dedicated to food security is the first of its kind in the UK and will spearhead vital research designed to help to secure the UK’s food supplies over the next few decades."


SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

As the nature of their product offering differs, Waitrose and John Lewis have divisional priorities for increasing the sustainability of their products. However, where common positions are appropriate, Partners will work together to deliver a joined-up approach. For example, through our Partnership-wide Marketplace Steering Group (see page 4), the divisions collaborate and share information on their plans.

British sourcing

In addition to owning Herbert Parkinson, which produces our own-brand duvets, pillows, furnishing fabrics and curtains, John Lewis supports British manufacturing wherever possible, stocking a range of Britishmade products including duvets handmade in Devon and Yard O Led silver pens. We offer suppliers fair prices, build long-term relationships and help them to reinvest in their businesses.

Waitrose’s own commitment to local and regional sourcing is one of the most established in the food retail sector, and covers nearly 2,500 locally and regionally sourced products from over 450 producers. We also sell more UK fruit and vegetables (relative to sales) than our competitors, and 100% of our fresh chicken, beef, pork, milk, eggs and cream are British.

Initiatives to promote local sourcing include inviting local farmers into shops to meet customers, supplier conferences and industry workshops, which help smaller producers to understand food legislation and ensure best practice is shared throughout our supply chain.

Sustainable agricultural standards

As farmers ourselves, we understand the importance and the challenges of maintaining high standards in agricultural production and environmental management.

Our sustainable agricultural practices are developed and embedded within our product protocols and sourcing policies, and we engage with our producers through a wide range of grower and producer groups. We utilise a growing number of certification, verification and assurance schemes. For example:

• Waitrose is the only UK retailer to have all its British fruit, vegetable and major flower growers meeting the Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) Marque certification standard, and we are working to extend the standard globally during 2010.
• Waitrose has been selling organic products for over 20 years, and its purchase of the Duchy master licence will see more lines added to its already broad range, which commands an impressive 20% share of the organic market.
• All fresh beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey used in John Lewis restaurants is Red Tractor certified and fresh produce is sourced from UK-based Red Tractor or LEAF-accredited growers wherever possible.
• Guided by our responsible fishing policy, Waitrose works alongside the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and many other organisations to develop the sustainability of fish around the world and to ensure all our fish comes from sustainable sources and is caught using responsible methods, or is farmed from responsible farming systems.
• We take animal welfare throughout our supply chain extremely seriously. Many of our standards exceed legal requirements and have been recognised by the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming. We only use free-range eggs in own-brand Waitrose products, carefully select our processing partners to minimise ‘time to slaughter’ journeys and use UK livestock with very few exceptions, such as New Zealand lamb in season.