Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

JLP discloses ~92,592 tCO₂e Scope 1 and ~106,555 tCO₂e Scope 2 (market-based) in line with SECR and GHG Protocol. Multi-year data shows 40% S1+S2 reduction vs 2020/21 baseline. No third-party limited assurance explicitly confirmed, preventing higher score.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

Scope 3 comprises 98% of JLP's emissions (~9.76m tCO₂e estimated), but published figures (~14,428 tCO₂e) cover only partial categories. Company acknowledges 'availability and quality of Scope 3 data is often limited.' Active supplier mapping (350+ suppliers, 690 facilities) via Responsible Manufacturing and SBTi-validated targets, but year-on-year quantified disclosure absent.

Emissions Trajectory: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

40% absolute S1+S2 reduction vs 2020/21 baseline; 54% transport reduction since 2018. On track for SBTi 60% S1+S2 target by 2030/31. Scope 3 absolute trajectory not yet quantified year-on-year; company acknowledges this gap and is working to improve accounting.

Energy Source: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

JLP committed to 100% renewable electricity via SmartestEnergy tariff from 2015 and targets 100% British-sourced renewable by 2028. However, 2023/24 Annual Report explicitly states 'purchased less than 100% renewable electricity' due to cost pressures. Fleet transition includes 580 HGVs on biomethane and 2,700 electric vans by 2030.

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

First UK retailer with SBTi-validated FLAGS targets covering deforestation and land-use change. Zero deforestation commitment by FY2025/26 across primary commodities. Farming for Nature supports 2,500 supplier farms with regenerative practices via Land App. 10% biodiversity net gain target for new construction. No quantified nature footprint or verified at-scale outcomes.

Resource Use & Waste: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

96.9% of own-brand primary packaging widely recyclable, reusable, or home-compostable as of 2024. FareShare redistribution provided 6.5 million meals in 2025. Best-before dates removed from 400+ product lines. Circularity principles incorporated in design, but no comprehensive closed-loop metrics or year-on-year tracking.

Water Impact: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

Signatory to Courtauld 2030 Water Roadmap targeting 50% fresh food from sustainable water management areas by 2030. Water stewardship projects funded in Norfolk, India, Spain, Medway. Pilot recycling trials underway on supplier farms. No quantified operational water consumption or reduction targets with verified data.

Targets & Commitments: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

SBTi near-term targets: 60% absolute S1+S2 by 2030/31; 42% absolute Scope 3 (purchased goods, use of sold products) by 2030/31. First UK retailer with SBTi-validated FLAG targets. Net-zero S1+S2 by 2035, ahead of 2050 legal requirement. No offset reliance. Scope 3 near-term delivery not yet demonstrated with quantified annual data.

Transparency & Accountability: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

Annual Ethics & Sustainability Report (2025/26) and SECR-compliant Annual Report with TCFD disclosures. Director of Ethics & Sustainability (Marija Rompani) leads function. Employee-owned governance provides accountability. No evidence of executive compensation explicitly linked to sustainability targets or shareholder voting on climate.

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Waitrose & Partners score?

Open Seas accused Waitrose of greenwashing Scottish scallop sourcing, claiming dredged scallops from protected areas. Foodrise UK (2023) criticized Leckford Estate promotion as misleading: 150 cattle represent negligible fraction of meat supply. JLP member of Logistics UK, which DeSmog reported lobbied against clean air zone expansion. No regulatory fines or active fossil lobbying by JLP itself found.

Waitrose & Partners Sustainability Score: 42/100

Recently scored: Next plc, Target Corporation, Rapanui Clothing, SHEIN

515 companies scored·27 score updates this week

Waitrose & Partners·Retail (non-fashion)·Bracknell, United Kingdom·Founded 1904·Last verified 31 May 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review-14 since last review

Waitrose has strong science-based climate targets and operational emissions reductions, but Scope 3—98% of its footprint—remains largely unmapped and unquantified. Supply chain data gaps, greenwashing accusations over scallop sourcing and Leckford Estate claims, and misaligned trade association membership undermine credibility.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Retail (non-fashion) sector ceiling.

48 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

53 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 48) + (0.7 × 53) = 51.5

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

42 / 100

The ten questions

Where Waitrose & Partners is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Targets & Commitments and Carbon Footprint — Operations (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (4/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

19 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

10 of 19 sources are third-party verified or public record.

[1]Self-reported

JLP Annual Report and Accounts 2024

2024

Q1Q4Q6Q9

Every score shows its working.

Where Waitrose & Partners is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Waitrose & Partners sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.

Waitrose & Partners's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.