10 Ways we’re working with tomorrow in mind

We want to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. That’s why we’ve made a commitment to using energy efficiently and reducing our carbon footprint.

HERE'S HOW WE'RE SAVING ENERGY

AT OUR STORES: Whenever we design a new store, we look at how to include energy-saving elements and solar power. This has resulted in more than 40% reduction in energy usage in SA stores, with over 100 green stores designed.

IN OUR TRUCKS: We’ve started an eco-fridge trial in partnership with Imperial to make our transport more sustainable.

AT OUR HEAD OFFICE: We’ve installed solar panels at our head office which provides around 250 000 kWh of electricity each year. This is one of our 4 solar projects so far.

We want to ensure future generations will still be able to enjoy clean, fresh water. That's why we’re actively working to use water responsibly   – in our own operations and those of our suppliers.

HERE'S HOW WE'RE SAVING WATER:

AT OUR HEAD OFFICE: We treat and use underground water, saving the local municipality over 14.5 million litres of water every year.

AT OUR DISTRIBUTION CENTRES: We’re implementing rainwater harvesting and reuse systems.

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: We’re helping farmers reduce water wastage and water pollution through our Farming for the Future initiative.

WATER STEWARDSHIP: We're working together with WWF, Marks and Spencer, The Alliance for Water Stewardship,  NGOs and Government in the roll out of a water stewardship project and helping our farmers to manage the water on their farms better.

WWF WATER BALANCE PROGRAMME: We've invested in WWF-SA’s Water Balance Programme to balance our water usage through projects that increase supplies of clean fresh water into the environment.

FABRIC SUPPLIERS: We’re working to eliminate the use of certain toxic and hazardous chemicals through our detox strategy.

IN OUR STORES:  We use recycled and grey water systems and measure and monitor our usage.  We’ve seen a 52% decrease in water usage in our stores since 2008.

We’re committed to reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill, recycling what we can and using recyclable materials where we can.

SOME OF THE WAYS WE'RE RECYCLING TO REDUCE WASTE:

RECYCLED PLASTIC: Everything in our stores from trolleys to signage is made of recycled materials.

ISIKHWAMA REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS: Small local enterprise Isikhwama makes our reusable shoppers using fabric containing 80% rPET (recycled bottles).  Since 2010 our limited edition wildlife bags raised over R8.3 million for conservation efforts.

THE CLOTHING BANK: The Clothing Bank empowers unemployed single mothers so they can build better lives for themselves and their children.

HANGERMAN: We’ve partnered with Hangerman to recover our clothes hangers by a workforce that includes many people with disabilities. Through this partnership, we’ve recycled over 350 million hangers.  

Together with our suppliers, we strive to operate in a way that respects workers' rights, maintains safe working conditions and protects the environment and the welfare of animals.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANISATIONS WE WORK WITH:

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES: We’re committed to procuring all our seafood from sustainable fisheries and responsible farming operations.

PARTNER PROGRAMMES: We’re also working with local and international programmes, including the Marine Stewardship Council, the WWF-SA’s Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council to ensure that all our seafood is responsibly sourced. 

FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: To reduce our effect on deforestation and forest degradation, we’re working towards using only responsibly sourced or recycled wood products throughout our operations.  

UTZ CERTIFIED COCOA: 100% of the cocoa sourced for Woolies branded chocolates, slabs and bars is UTZ certified, providing assurance that the cocoa has been produced responsibly, and creates better opportunities for farmers, their families and the planet.                       

We work with farms to help conserve natural habitats, and recycle what we can into our fabrics. 

HERE ARE TWO OF THE WAYS WE’RE WORKING SUSTAINABLY:

BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE: We’re a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, which helps farmers improve their livelihoods while reducing environmental stress. So far over 30% of our cotton is responsibly sourced.

PLASTIC BOTTLES: Over 10 million PET bottles are recycled into fibre for use in our jeans, t-shirts and reusable shopping bags every year.

 

People are at the heart and foundation of our business, which is why we’re working to grow, transform and develop our employees and suppliers as well as contributing towards the national development priorities of South Africa.

We’re committed to the socio-economic transformation of our country and workforce and are working towards increasing equity ownership of Woolworths.

BEE SCHEME: Our Black Empowerment Employee Share Ownership Scheme created R2.4 billion in value for the participants and R332 million was paid out as dividends over the period of the scheme.

We’re also transforming our supply chain by facilitating entry of small, black and women owned businesses into the Woolworths supply chain and supporting them to be sustainable businesses.

HOW WE HELP:

We help these suppliers by offering preferential payment terms, low-cost loans and product development guidance through our supplier and enterprise development programme.

We’re contributing to South Africa’s national development priorities through our social development initiatives. We’re passionate about our country and believe that by helping previously disadvantaged communities build economically sustainable livelihoods for themselves, we will empower future generations. The Woolworths Trust supports programmes addressing food security, child vulnerability and education.

HERE'S HOW WE'RE HELPING COMMUNITIES:

EDUPLANT: Through the EduPlant programme, the flagship programme of the Woolworths Trust initiated and managed by Food & Trees for Africa, we’re helping under-resourced schools and communities gain the skills they need to grow their own healthy, nutritious food. Hundreds of gardens have been planted.

SURPLUS FOOD DONATIONS: As part of addressing the issue of food security, we have established a system of diverting our surplus food from going to waste. We donate this food to needy communities via structured charity organisations. In the last year, we have donated over R485 million worth of food to needy causes.

CHILDSAFE: The Woolworths Trust works with Childsafe, a campaign of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa, to raise awareness of childhood injuries and their prevention. We continue to support the awareness campaign ‘You're Bigger Be the Adult’ as a means to help reduce preventable accidents and injuries to children and to help make South Africa safer for our children.

EDUCATION: Through MySchool, The Woolworths Educational Programmes as well as a partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust, we contribute to the improvement of education in South African schools.  

For most South African schools, a lack of resources and a shortage of funds are everyday realities. That’s why we’ve established the MySchool Fundraising programme.

MYSCHOOL MYVILLAGE MYPLANET: This programme raises over R6 million a month for schools and charities. MySchool supports more than 8 000 schools, charities and environmental organisations. So far, we have raised R393 million.

The Good Food Journey is the name we’ve given to our ongoing quest to offer South Africa food that’s better for our customers, better for the environment and better for the people who produce it. It encompasses everything we put into our food, everything we leave out , how we treat our animals as well as making your shopping experience better 

WHAT WE PUT IN: Our W Café house roast is made from 100% African organic coffee beans, sourced by local experts and roasted to perfection. We’ve sold only free range whole eggs in our stores since 2004. Our yoghurts contain millions of live Bifidobacterium cultures that keep your body in balance. 

WHAT WE LEAVE OUT: We don’t use aspartame, saccharine or cyclamate in our food. We also don’t use azo-dyes, including tartrazine and MSG. Our juices don’t contain SO2, and our de-caf coffee is made using the Swiss water method - not with chemicals.  There are also no routine antibiotics in the feed of our free range chicken and no animal byproducts in any of our chicken feed. 

HOW WE TREAT OUR ANIMALS: Our Woolies branded canned tuna is MSC certified and caught with a pole and line to avoid threatened animals like turtles and dolphins being caught in nets. Our fresh pork is sow-friendly and our honey is badger-friendly. 

YOUR SHOPPING EXPERIENCE: To make sure you have the best information possible, we include an allergen bar on all product labels and any ingredients from potential GM crop sources are indicated. Our nutritional info has been expanded to include the fatty acid breakdown.