Country Road Group

OVERALL
Owned	ZAF
Rating

Clothing

Founded in 1974, South Africa's Woolworth Holdings secured a controlling interest in Country Road in 1998. Solomon Lew owned a strategic 12% stake for 17 years, which he sold in 2014 during Woolworths' acquisition of David Jones. Acquired Witchery in 2012 and Politix in 2016.

Company Ownership

Country Road Group Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email	facebook	twitter
Woolworths Holdings Ltd       owns 100% of Country Road Group Pty Ltd	ZAF	website	email
Retail and financial services Founded in South Africa in 1931. Today the South African investment company has retail operations throughout Africa and into the Middle East, plus they own Australian retail chains Country Road and David Jones. It is not related to Woolworths Ltd in Australia.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Country Road Group Pty Ltd
A- grade in 2019 Ethical Fashion Report A- grade in the Baptist World Aid Australia's 'Ethical Fashion Report 2019', which grades companies, from A to F, on the strength of their systems to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policies, transparency and traceability, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental management. [Source 2019][More on Workers Rights] Australian Packaging Covenant signatory Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation. [Source 2020][More on Packaging] Efforts to pay a living wage Oxfam Australia's Company Tracker compares the big clothing brands on their efforts to pay a living wage to the women working in their factories. This company has released the names and addresses of at least 70% of their supplier factories, and has taken some action towards paying a living wage within a set timeframe in the supply chain. [Source 2019][More on Workers Rights] Bangladesh Safety Accord signatory This company has signed the 'Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh', a program endorsed by Bangladeshi and international unions and labor rights organizations. The ground-breaking program includes independent safety inspections with public reports, mandatory factory building renovations, the obligation by brands and retailers to underwrite the cost of repairs, and a vital role for workers and their unions – all in a legally-binding, enforceable agreement. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights]		Breaching advertising codes This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2014 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about an internet ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ad was subsequently discontinued or modified. [Source 2014][More on Irresponsible Marketing] CitySwitch signatory This company is a signatory to CitySwitch Green Office, a national tenant energy efficiency program run in partnership between business and local government. The program works with office tenants to improve their energy efficiency, thereby reducing carbon pollution. [Source 2018][More on Climate Change] Use of RWS-certified wool This company has committed to making products with RWS-certified wool. The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a voluntary global standard which ensures that sheep are treated with respect to their five freedoms and also ensures best practices in the management and protection of the land. However PETA claim the RWS is a kind of greenwash. (http://bit.ly/2oH56o6) [Source 2018][More on Animal Rights] Fur free retailer This retailer has committed to being a fur free retailer, as recognised by the International Fur Free Retailer Program. [Source 2019][More on Animal Rights] Social responsibility claims This company has a number of corporate responsibility claims on its website covering the areas of employees, community, environment and ethical trade. Initiatives include sourcing non-mulesed wool, supporting charities, waste and recycling schemes, installation of water tanks and implementing their Code of Labour Practice. [Source 2012][More on Sustainability Reporting] Textile Exchange member This company is a member of the Textile Exchange, a global non-profit that works closely with its members to drive textile industry transformation in preferred fibres, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks. They identify and share best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability and product end-of-life in order to reduce the textile industry's impact on the world's water, soil and air, and the human population. [Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] Leather Working Group member This company is a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group who's objective is to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry. [Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] Misleading conduct In May 2011 Country Road payed former CEO John Cheston $1.1m to settle a lawsuit. Cheston was suing the company for $6.5m for misleading conduct in his hiring and breach of contract when dismissing him without notice. [Source 2011][More on Governance]
Woolworths Holdings Ltd
CDP Climate Change Score of B In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B. [Source 2019][More on Climate Change] Uzbek cotton commitment This company has signed the Cotton Pledge with the Responsible Sourcing Network, signifying a public commitment to not knowingly source Uzbek cotton for the manufacturing of any of their products until the Government of Uzbekistan ends the practice of forced labor in its cotton sector. The Uzbek government uses local government officials, hospital directors, and school presidents to mobilize workers; and detains and tortures human rights defenders seeking to monitor the harvests. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights] CDP Water Security Score of B In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of B. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights]	19/100 in Fashion Transparency Index The 2020 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 19%, signifying it makes some efforts to manage and improve their supply chains but make little supply chain information publicly available. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 73%. [Source 2020][More on Sustainability Reporting]	Controversies Wikipedia lists a number of controversies for this company: In October 2010, Woolworths came under fire as they opted to remove Christian magazines from their shelves and discontinue their sale; In 2012 the South African Advertising Standards Authority ruled that Woolworths' vintage cold drink range was an imitation of a rival soft drinks range; In September 2012 Woolworths was accused of racism by some groups for allegedly discriminating against white job applicants and staff; In October 2013 rumours of plagiarism surfaced when Euodia Roets, a South African artist, accused Woolworths of using her designs that were kept as sample after contract negations which failed. [Source 2015][More on Human Rights] CanopyStyle member This company is a member of the CanopyStyle initiative, which came about when research found that millions of trees are used every year to produce dissolving pulp, a key ingredient for fabrics such as rayon/viscose. The campaign seeks to phase out the use of endangered forest fibre in fabric. [Source 2018][More on Forests] Partnership with WWF in South Africa In Nov 2012 the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) and Woolworths announced a broad-based, multifaceted partnership to drive greater sustainability through selected Woolworths products and operations. The three year partnership "recognises the growing congruence between WWF-SA and Woolworths interests in, among others: the conservation of energy; freshwater ecosystems; the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices; and the protection of fish stocks." [Source 2012][More on Forests] Plastics Commitment signatory This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source. [Source 2019][More on Oceans] Climate action commitments As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty; remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020; improve water security. [Source 2017][More on Climate Change] Fur free retailer This retailer has committed to being a fur free retailer, as recognised by the International Fur Free Retailer Program. [Source 2019][More on Animal Rights] Good Egg Award 2014 (South Africa) Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. This company won their Good Egg Award in 2014 for their work with free-range eggs. [Source 2014][More on Animal Rights] Sustainability Champion This company was designated a "New Sustainability Champion" in this 2010 document (page 42) from the World Economic Forum and the Boston Consulting Group. New Sustainability Champions proactively turn constraints into opportunities through innovation, embed sustainability in their company culture, and actively shape their business environments. [Source 2010][More on Governance] Sustainability reporting Follow link to see this company's latest sustainability reports. [Source 2015][More on Sustainability Reporting] Responsible Retailer Award In 2012 Woolworths Holdings won the International Responsible Retailer of the Year Award at the World Retail Congress for the third time in five years. Improved indicators include carbon footprint, water and packaging reduction, sustainable clothing and food products. [Source 2012][More on Governance] Better Cotton Initiative member This company is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, a voluntary program which encourages the adoption of better management practices in cotton cultivation to achieve measurable reductions in key environmental impacts, while improving social and economic benefits for cotton farmers, small and large, worldwide. [Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] Textile Exchange member This company is a member of the Textile Exchange, a global non-profit that works closely with its members to drive textile industry transformation in preferred fibres, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks. They identify and share best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability and product end-of-life in order to reduce the textile industry's impact on the world's water, soil and air, and the human population. [Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] Leather Working Group member This company is a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group who's objective is to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry. [Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] Sedex member This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics. [Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] CDP Forests Score of C In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C. [Source 2019][More on Forests] 56/100 S&P Global ESG Score This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 56/100 in the Retailing category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices. [Source 2019][More on Sustainability Reporting]

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David Jones acquired by South Africa's Woolworths
20th Jul 2014 — David Jones became foreign owned in July 2014, ending 176 years of Australian ownership, after being acquired by South Africa's Woolworths for $2.2 billion. Woolworths also owns clothing retail group Country Road.  [source]