Taking good care
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy
The CSR strategy is aligned with the Group's vision to be food specialist for everyone and to delivering the brand values of fresh, service and value. It is structured around the areas of environment, society and business.
CSR governance
Championed by Chief Executive, Marc Bolland, turning CSR strategy into reality is governed by the CSR Project Team comprising Board Directors and senior operational directors. The CSR Project Team reports regularly to the Board. Ongoing activities are co-ordinated through a steering group for each CSR strategy area. Projects and activities are supported by working groups and delivered by operational management.
CSR report
The full CSR report is available online at http://www.morrisons.co.uk/corporate/about-morrisons or by contacting the CSR Team, see Investor relation section. This is an extract from that report covering the progress made during the year in each area.
Climate change, waste and sustainability
Carbon footprint reduction: Our carbon reduction strategy includes the implementation of more than 100 projects aimed at reducing our carbon emissions. During 2007 a total of 115,718 tonnes of carbon has been saved. A Retail Industry award winning training initiative trained over 100,000 colleagues, and contributed 24,734 tons, and a 5% saving of Group energy usage. Since the baseline of 2005 we have made a cumulative reduction of 374,190 tonnes of carbon, which is 70% of our target. A significant point of difference between our own Carbon Footprint and that of our competitors is that emissions from our manufacturing, processing and packaging are included in our Carbon Footprint.
Preventing waste: We have achieved 18% of our target to reduce volume of waste to landfill by 50% by 2010. A number of packaging initiatives, including the introduction of "Prepared for You" packaging for foods freshly prepared in-store, have helped reduce own brand packaging by 7%. Customer awareness about what can be recycled has been increased through our award winning "Recyclopedia" own brand packaging labelling scheme.
Sourcing responsibly: A range of targets including timber from recycled or certified sustainable sources, fish complying with our sustainable sourcing policy, own brand eggs to be free range, increasing the range of Organic and Fairtrade products, and indicating the country of origin through labelling, have been met, exceeded or have made good progress.
Work, neighbours and living
Employer of choice: Our people remain at the heart of our vision and plans. Through a series of workshops involving 1,000 colleagues, the values that support our strategy to be food specialist for everyone have been developed. These are being incorporated in every aspect of our business and are supported by the introduction of an online Leadership Academy for our senior managers, and an on-going communications and engagement strategy.
Be neighbourly: We have continued to support good causes with over £577,000 donated during the year. The £1m target set for our Charity of the Year 2007, Asthma UK, was exceeded with colleagues and customers raising £1.1m to help fund vital research projects.
Encourage a better standard of living: Good progress has been made on labelling own brand foods with Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs). Targets were exceeded for increasing Eat Smart and Free From ranges, and good progress has been made in reducing salt and removing hydrogenated fats from our own brand products.
Sourcing, supply and engagement
Product stewardship: The traceability of product and ingredients is paramount for food safety and quality. The successful implementation of a new data system has increased the efficiency and detail of product information that can be accessed easily. The targets set for food safety standards, assurance and responsible sourcing continue to be met. Targets are being extended to cover farm animal welfare policies, pesticide residues monitoring and enhanced testing of imported products.
Supply chain integrity: In 2007, the Morrisons Ethical Trading Code was implemented with suppliers in Africa, Asia and South America and in 2008 we will be conducting an audit exercise. Long-term relationships with suppliers continue to be developed, built on a foundation of continuing compliance with the "Supermarkets Code of Practice" and the Morrisons Buyers' Charter.
Satisfaction for all stakeholders: Through active participation with specialist interest groups and forums ranging from government initiatives and charitable causes, to specialist CSR forums, we aim to address and meet the needs of key stakeholders.