How John Lewis Partnership is Fighting Food Waste in the UK

The John Lewis Partnership, encompassing the Waitrose supermarket chain and John Lewis & Partners department stores, employs around 74,000 people throughout the UK. Operating more than 300 locations nationwide, the organisation has released its Ethics and Sustainability Report 2025/26, outlining its approach to environmental stewardship and ethical supply chain management across its food, clothing and homeware offerings.

For Waitrose, the food retail arm of the partnership, the report highlights significant progress in sustainable sourcing and public health initiatives that could reshape how supermarkets address both environmental responsibility and customer wellbeing. The company's ethics and sustainability strategy encompasses supply chains and sourcing, the environment, communities and health.

Jason Tarry, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, explains the challenging landscape facing retailers: "This year, the operational context outside of our shops, stores, offices and depots has been particularly challenging for the sustainability agenda. Inside our doors the story is different, as we remain fully committed to long-term, responsible change. We're as motivated to care for our communities, protect nature and mitigate climate change as ever," he says.

Jason says that ethical business practices could drive stronger performance. "That's because we understand acting responsibly is not in opposition with commercial success. Indeed, ethical business drives stronger performance: it's clear that customers are increasingly choosing brands that they trust to act ethically and sustainably."

Sustainable sourcing in food retail

Waitrose has set ambitious targets for its own-brand food sourcing, aiming to farm all milk, meat, eggs and farmed fish to defined higher-welfare standards. Through its fish and shellfish supply chain, the company plans to source all own-brand products from third-party verified responsible sources.

The partnership's commitment to animal welfare extends beyond basic standards, working closely with farmers to ensure continuous improvement across all livestock categories. This approach recognises that sustainable farming practices benefit both animal welfare and environmental outcomes.

The supermarket also aims to achieve zero deforestation and conversion-free sourcing of key commodities across its own-brand product supply chains. This includes rigorous monitoring of supply chains for commodities such as soy, palm oil and cocoa, which are often linked to deforestation in vulnerable ecosystems.

According to the report, John Lewis Partnership has improved 206,337 livelihoods of workers and farmers globally. The organisation reached the milestone of £1m (US$1.35m) funding allocated to climate resilience projects by the Waitrose Foundation between 2022 and 2025.

Tackling food waste and emissions

John Lewis Partnership has committed to achieving net zero across its operations by 2035 and its wider value chain by 2050. In 2025, it achieved a 40% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 emissions against its 2020/21 baseline, with a 54% emissions reduction in transport operations since 2018.

The company is designing, making and selling products with circularity in mind, tackling packaging and food waste throughout its supply chain. Waitrose is redistributing surplus food through the King's Coronation Food Project to FareShare, donating approximately 300 tonnes of surplus fresh fruit in 2025.

Marija Rompani, Director of Ethics and Sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, says: "This year, in the face of significant headwinds across the retail industry, the strength and dedication of our Partners have truly shone through.

"I am extremely proud that, despite a challenging global environment, our commitment to the sustainability agenda has remained steadfast, giving us great confidence that we can continue to be a driving force for positive change."

Healthier food and drink ranges

Addressing food poverty, surplus food from Waitrose was shared with more than 4,000 charities in FareShare's network, providing 6.5 million meals to people in need. Waitrose customers donated 1.7 million meals to local food banks through collection points in stores.

The company aims to help customers lead healthier lives, supporting positive changes to improve balanced diets. According to the report, Waitrose hit its healthy food and drink sales target one year early, with 70.1% of own-brand food and drink sales volumes meeting the Good Health criteria.

The supermarket features these foods in meal deals, promotions and recipe ideas in advertisements and online. This strategic approach makes healthier choices more accessible and appealing to customers whilst maintaining the quality and variety that Waitrose shoppers expect.

In 2025, Waitrose removed 79 additives from own-label food and drink products without compromising quality, taste or safety, demonstrating how major food retailers could respond to public health needs whilst maintaining product standards.