Sustainability
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Wesfarmers places a high priority on its sustainability and community responsibilities. The diversity and depth of our business operations - ranging from retail, insurance, industrial, energy and mining – reach into many Australian and New Zealand communities. This means we have a major responsibility in getting all of our sustainability efforts right. Each year, Wesfarmers produces a sustainability report that measures its progress in managing sustainability and community issues across all its divisions and provides the basis on which the company will expand and improve its sustainability efforts into the future. These principles include:
As part of our efforts to enact these principles Wesfarmers Limited produces several public reports in addition to our statutory annual and financial reports. Below is a list of statutory or voluntary reports which Wesfarmers produces yearly in addition to our own Sustainability Report. In addition Wesfarmers is a member of several industry associations or accreditation bodies that seek to promote and advocate policy positions for business and industry in Australia. Below is a list of organisations which Wesfarmers is a member of. In addition, our operating businesses have memberships with other organisations relevant to their business sector. Information on those memberships can be found on the business’ website. For more information on sustainability at Wesfarmers please email info@wesfarmers.com.au. Public Reporting Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO)The EEO programme is overseen by the federal government's Department of Resources Energy and Tourism (RET) and exists to provide a framework for Australia's largest energy users to systematically assess their energy use, develop opportunities to become more efficient in their use of energy and report on this assessment and implementation programme publicly through the Department. The programme requires the engagement and commitment of Boards and senior management in itsprocesses and reporting. Wesfarmers has an Assessment and Reporting Schedule approved by RET and submittedits first government and public reports onits progress with the EEO programme in December 2008 as required. The Public reports are available on the RET website (www.ret.gov.au) and Wesfarmers Public reports are also available on the Wesfarmers website.  National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting system (NGERs)NGERs was created by the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (as amended) and designed to accurately aggregate and report the energy use and greenhouse emissions from Australia. All of Wesfarmers businesses are included in its reports under NGERs and the first of these was submitted in October 2009. Accompanying the document is an explanation of the differences between the greenhouse and energy data reported in the 2009 Wesfarmers Sustainability Report and the NGERs Act report. The reports are available on the Department's website. When a carbon emissions trading system is introduced into Australia NGERs will form the legal basis for reporting emissions and determining the need to purchase emission permits. Click here to view Wesfarmers current NGERs Act Submission. Click here for more information on NGERs.
 London Benchmarking Group (LBG)The London Benchmark Group (LBG) operates an assessment and verification process for organisations wishing to define their community contributions according to standard definitions and policies that are developed collaboratively by the LBG and its members. Wesfarmers Limited joined the LBG network in 2009. Memberships and accreditations Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)The Project represents a large number of institutional investors, purchasing organisations and government bodies and exists to encourage companies and public sector agencies to measure, manage and reduce carbon emissions. The CDP provides each participant with a detailed annual questionnaire to be completed and returned for review and assessment, which in turn allows the CDP to develop databases on carbon emissions, and the risks, mitigation strategies and commercial opportunities participants are dealing with in addressing the challenges created through reducing carbon emissions.  Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)Wesfarmers is one of 19 Australian companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes for 2009 (as at 31 August 2009). The DJSI includes the top 10 per cent of the 2,500 biggest companies in the Dow Jones World Index in terms of corporate sustainability after assessment again economic, environmental and social criteria.  National Packaging Covenant (NPC)The NPC is a voluntary initiative by the governments of Australia and private industry to reduce the effects of packaging on the environment, through facilitating the reuse and recycling of used packaging, conserving resources through the better design and production of packaging and reducing any impacts arising from the disposal of used packaging. Wesfarmers signed the Covenant on behalf of all its participating businesses in 2009, but prior to that Coles, Target, Kmart, Officeworks (under the former Coles Group Limited) and Bunnings were signatories. Annual action plans and public progress reports are required from signatories and from 2009 these will be displayed on this website as well as in the covenant's forums and facilities.  Business Council of Australia (BCA)The BCA is one of the major business organisations in Australia and is very active in advancing ideas and participating in policy processes to advance the cause of strong and sustainable economic growth, employment , business reform, global engagement and other relevant issues within Australia. Wesfarmers is a long standing and active member of the BCA.  Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA)Theassociation exists to represent the views of energy users in Australia within policy and regulatory frameworks and forums, and energy markets, and strives to achieve an Australian energy supply system that is competitive, effectively regulated and environmentally sustainable. Wesfarmers operates many businesses that are large users of energy and (through the former Coles Group businesses) has been associated with EUAA for many years.  Australian Institute of Management (AIM)The institute is a not-for-profit entity which exists to promote the advancement of education and learning in the field of management and leadership for commerce, industry and government. Wesfarmers supports the objectives of AIM through its corporate membership, participation in various training programmes and many Wesfarmers staff are personal members of the Institute.  Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association (WA SEA)WA SEA is the peak business body in Western Australia for the sustainable energy industry. It seeks to promote the development and adoption of sustainable energy technologies and services through contributions to public policy and the attraction of a broad group of businesses. Wesfarmers operates several businesses in the energy generation and/or supply fields, as well as being a significant energy user in its own right.  Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia (CCIWA)CCIWA is a leading Australian business organisation, representing small, medium and large businesses in Western Australia, with strong links to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Wesfarmers is a long standing member of CCIWA on behalf of our operating businesses and CCIWA supports our businesses through public policy advocacy, apprentice training, staff training and development and employee relations advice amongst its wider range of services. |
