Waitrose commits to zero deforestation sourcing as part of new sustainability strategy

Waitrose’s parent company, the John Lewis Partnership, has set out a new sustainability strategy with a focus on “protecting and restoring nature”.

The retailer unveiled its new ‘Plan for Nature’ on Tuesday (4 October), which saw it double down on its existing green pledges and launch bold new sustainability targets – including committing to zero deforestation in the sourcing of key commodities across all Waitrose and John Lewis own-brand product supply chains.

As part of the new biodiversity plan, the JLP has struck a new partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to invest £2m in two new major conservation projects in the UK and India.

One of the projects aims to restore and protect nature in Norfolk, a key source of Waitrose meat, cereal and vegetable products, and the other will focus on improving the health of the Noyyal and Bhavani river basins in southern India, where it sources cotton.

In line with its pledge to fund biodiversity and nature conservation in key sourcing regions, Waitrose will also ensure at least half of its fresh foods come from areas that are managing water use responsibly by 2030.

“This year, as we considered both our heritage and our purpose, we have taken stock of the impact of our business on the world around us, and reaffirmed our long-term relationship with nature,” said JLP director of ethics & sustainability, Marija Rompani.

“This is why we’re going back to our roots and focusing our efforts on protecting and restoring nature.”

The JLP also said it would ensure all its UK supplier farms were net zero by 2035. Its own Leckford Estate farm, where it tests its sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices, is already on track to achieve net zero status by 2024.

It has also vowed to source all key raw materials in its own-band products from more sustainable or recycled sourced by 2025.

Furthermore, the company is committing to removing all fossil fuel use from its own transport fleet by 2030, and it will convert all heavy trucks to biomethane fuel in 2028.

“Whether it’s eliminating fossil fuel use across our transport operations, investing millions in conservation projects in regions where we source our products, or helping our farmers make the transition to net zero, we are acting where we can make the biggest impact,” Rompani said.

“And these principles will apply to everything we sell, including our entry level Essential Waitrose and John Lewis Anyday ranges – ensuring products made with sustainable values are accessible to all our customers.”

Waitrose has kept its pledge to halve food waste in its own operations and supply chains by 2030, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Additionally, all John Lewis product categories will have a ‘buy back’ or ‘take back’ option by 2025, and all own-brand products will be made with “circular design principles in mind” from 2028.

On the home, fashion and technology side, the group is also looking to develop more rental, resale and return opportunities to foster better circular economy practices.

“The John Lewis Partnership feels passionately that investing in nature restoration across its supply chain is the most impactful way it can make a difference,” it said.