John Lewis doubles down on rental as part of new sustainability pledges

The John Lewis Partnership has doubled down on its pledge to “protect and restore nature” with a set of new sustainability pledges which will also see it develop more rental, resale and return opportunities. 

It said it comes as climate experts estimate that to limit global warming to the recommended 1.5°C, global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025, and be reduced by 43% by *2030. 

It added that achieving this requires a “fundamental change” to the way all industries operate and 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.

The new commitments include: 

• Invest £2m to fund ecosystem protection and regeneration projects in the UK and India through a new and exclusive partnership with WWF.
• Commit to zero deforestation in the sourcing of key commodities across Waitrose and John Lewis own-brand product supply chains.
• Ensure all key raw materials in its own-brand products will be from more sustainable or recycled sources by 2025.
• Fund sustainable water management programmes in three key fresh-produce sourcing areas.
• Incorporate natural elements and design principles into all key new build and renovation projects, including Build to Rent projects that the Partnership is involved in.
• Reduce its GHG emissions across its farm at Leckford with the aim to be net zero well ahead of its 2035 commitment.
• Develop more rental, resale and return opportunities, with an ambition to offer more sustainable ownership options for its customers across key areas including fashion, home and technology.

Marija Rompani, director of Ethics and Sustainability, said: “We all know that we can’t exist without nature, it is essential for our survival and it will play a vital role in solving the problem of climate change. We can’t solve one without the other, the crises of nature loss and climate change are inextricably linked. And yet, the UK currently languishes in the bottom 10% of global countries for its abundance of nature. That’s unacceptable and given the tiny window in which we have to get this right, delaying action is simply not an option.

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