Sainsbury’s has taken significant steps in improving communication throughout its workforce, supporting local communities and reducing carrier bag usage.
The retailer reports, in its latest corporate social responsibility report, that it has achieved a free carrier bag reduction in the last year of 35 per cent - 312 million fewer bagsin 2008-09 than in 2007-08.
The company reports it is two per cent off target on its Colleague Engagement Index, at 73 per cent, and is pleased with its efforts given a widening of criteria since the goals were set.
In 2008-09, its Local Heroes scheme raised £788,000 through volunteering and fundraising and matched their efforts by donating £235,000 to help their chosen causes.
But it hasn’t achieved all of its original goals, with its plans to replace 150m trays and bags with compostable packaging by September severely hindered by technical difficulties in sealing technologies and the costs of compostable packaging. It has now dropped this goal.
Anna Ford, chair of Sainsbury’s corporate responsibility committee, said: “Making a positive difference to our community has long been part of the Sainsbury’s brand and this year we donated a record £11m to Comic Relief with the support of our customers and colleagues.
“Being a great place to work for our colleagues is key to our success and 120,000 colleagues will share a bonus of £60m this year, bringing the total amount paid out over the last four years to £210m.”
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