John Lewis doubles down on rental and resale as it unveils new sustainability commitments

The department store retailer, which also owns supermarket chain Waitrose, has launched a number of initiatives in a bid to “significantly reduce the impact of Waitrose and John Lewis’ commercial activity on the natural world”.

John Lewis said it will look to develop its second-hand economy strategy including rental and resale, as well as launching a “take back” or “buy back” scheme across all product categories by 2025.

The retailer has also unveiled a partnership with WWF, and is looking to invest £2m to fund projects in the UK and India to support biodiversity conservation.

John Lewis said it is committed to zero deforestation in its own-label supply chains, as well as ensuring all key raw materials in such products come from recycled or more sustainable sources by 2025.

Within its farms, the retailer is also seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural processes, with an aim to reach net zero at its Leckford location by 2024.

John Lewis director of ethics and sustainability Marija Rompani 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.

“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.”

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