John Lewis is first retailer to sign-up to HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta sustainable initiative

The John Lewis Partnership has become the first retailer to sign-up to HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta – launched on 11 January 2021 – which forms part of HRH’s Sustainable Markets Initiative, putting “nature, people and the planet” at the heart of global business.

The Terra Carta lists 10 “action articles” for the decade and aims to provide an integrated roadmap towards an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for the sake of present and future generations. It also aims to “harness the power of nature,” utilising the innovation and resources of the private sector.

The John Lewis Partnership’s commitment includes becoming net zero carbon across its entire operations by 2035. That will be supported by removing fossil fuels across its entire transport fleet by 2030. All of the retailer’s heavy goods vehicles will also be converted to biomethane gas, which is made of food waste, by 2028. And all own-brand product packaging across John Lewis and Waitrose will be widely recyclable, reusable, or home compostable by 2023.

HRH The Prince of Wales, said: “The more companies that sign up to the Terra Carta, the greater its capability will be to drive the change we so desperately need. I can only encourage more people to join this urgent call to arms.”

Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, added: “HRH The Prince of Wales has made an outstanding contribution to global environmental preservation and protection for over 40 years and we are proud to support his latest initiative and become a Terra Carta supporter.

“The Terra Carta reinforces the Partnership’s commitment to sustainability and we're pleased to be the first retailer to support it. It will help galvanise our work to put the environment at the heart of what we do. We know we still have a long way to go but each day we are making progress.”