A view on Woolworths' corporate responsibility reportBY JOSH DOWSE | FRIDAY, 21 DEC 2012 10:09AMIf you eat or drink in Australia, you're likely to have been a Woolworths customer once or twice this year. If not, you may have bought something in a big box from BigW or Masters, as Woolworths pushes to match its doppelganger Wesfarmers in every sector. Woollies is a big part of our national furniture, and it matters what they do. Someone asked me to have a look at their 2012 corporate responsibility report. I put it on the list and now, crossing off my last to-do of the year, here is a view. It's too light a treatment on many issues, not least alcohol and farmer relationships, but there is still much to see. Related News |
Editor's Choice
Green moves: Aware Super, Minderoo Foundation
CareSuper hired an ESG specialist from a rival, while Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation appointed an executive director of effective philanthropy.
Macquarie AM takes over Island Green Power
Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) is now the owner of renewable energy developer Island Green Power, scooping up the remaining 50% stake.
Palliser Capital hits out at Rio Tinto board
Palliser Capital has vowed to continue pressing for governance reform at Rio Tinto after its shareholder resolution calling for an independent review of the miner's dual-listed company structure fell short at the group's annual general meeting.
ISSB looks to ease Scope 3 disclosure requirements
The International Sustainability Standards Board has proposed changes to requirements under IFRS S2 to offer clarity around existing reliefs and provide further relief in relation to specific Greenhouse Gas emissions disclosures.
Whitepapers
Mandatory sustainability reporting in Australia
This paper provides an in-depth guide on identifying which entities need to prepare mandatory sustainability reports in their annual reports, and covers ...
Decoding Trump 2.0 and the impact on ESG investing
From an ESG perspective, Trump's social, economic and political agenda will keep issues rich and complicated for companies and investors alike, and that ...
Powering AI: An opportunity for investors?
Power availability is the biggest challenge for artificial intelligence (AI) growth.
Credit where credit is due. Woolworths is making progress in some areas of concern but still walking both sides of the street.
It would be useful for Woolworths to benchmark themselves against leading supermarkets elsewhere Tesco, Sainsbury's, Royal Ahold to name a few.
Given their immense status I am looking to Woolworths to lead the debate rather than follow community sentiment.
Has Woolworths considering using rooftops to host solar arrays or providing on site waste to energy plants?
We are getting to sustainable production and consumption very slowly and large corporates have the power and the profits to move the goal posts.
Like many people I spend money consciously at both Westfarmers and Woolworths stores. A REAL commitment to sustainability would generate greater loyalty from conscious consumers and gain market share from swinging shoppers.
I watch the space and hope for leadership to emerge.
[...] published in The Sustainability Report, 21 December [...]