Annual Report and Accounts 2016


John Lewis Partnership plc


43


How did we identify our material sustainability issues?


Our materiality process, which began in 2014, has enabled us to prioritise the issues that are most important to our business. This has helped us to plan and invest accordingly. We worked with consultants EY to design a process that would allow us from the outset to engage Partners across the business in capturing issues of interest and concern.


We applied a structured methodology to quantify the relative importance of these issues. This involved an analysis of our operating environment and our business model, combined with interviews with senior managers across the business. We then consolidated issues into key categories producing a long list of issues which were scored in Divisional workshops using four lenses.


Customers: Relevance of issue to purchasing patterns of our customers


Commercial: Impact of management of issue on our operational or commercial performance


Future Impact: ‘Horizon scanning’ to identify whether issues are likely to increase or decrease in importance and assessment of their likely impact


Stakeholders: Interest among other stakeholders and Partners in the issue and impact of the issue on our reputation


The output was then validated through stakeholder interviews (with suppliers, NGOs, community organisations, Government, Industry and Trade Associations and Partners) in order to obtain feedback on their current understanding of material issues.


Our Environment Page 47 >


a Operational emissions a Waste


Our material sustainability issues


Our Partners Page 48 >


a Pay a Performance a Productivity a Progression


a Inclusive ownership a Health and wellbeing


Our customers Page 44 >


a Healthy lifestyles a Safe products


Our Communities Page 45 >


a Community involvement and charity support


Sourcing responsibly Page 46 >


a Human Rights a Raw materials a Animal welfare a Sustainable farming a Fair trade terms


For more information


The relative importance of these issues to each business Division is reflected in our reporting. We have published newly set targets under each area and highlight key actions we are taking to tackle our most material issues in our more detailed online report. www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk


a Buying British a Security of supply


a Responsible aquaculture and fisheries


What are material issues?


We supply goods and deliver services to millions of customers. We source products from all over the world, operate in hundreds of different communities across the UK, and provide direct employment to 91,500 people. This reach means our business has a wide range of social and environmental impacts. Material issues are those factors that could impact the business in the short, medium or long-term, and which are of importance to our stakeholders.


“ Our customers expect the best quality products. For us, quality includes how a product is sourced, the human rights of those who make it and consideration for its environmental impact.”


t ced,


Craig Inglis Customer Director, John Lewis


It’s Your Performance


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