Wesfarmers

OVERALL
Owned	AUS
Rating

Retail, energy, insurance, chemicals

Founded in WA in 1914 as a farmers' cooperative, today Wesfarmers operations include department stores; home improvement and office supplies; insurance; chemicals, energy and fertilisers; and industrial and safety products. Acquired Coles Group in 2007 for $20 billion in the biggest takeover in Australian corporate history. Coles was spun-off in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers.

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PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Wesfarmers Ltd
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]	Cotton sourcing (Rank a Brand) In 2016 Rank a Brand assessed 37 major cotton-using companies on their commitment and performance with regard to sustainable cotton by looking at each company's cotton sourcing policies, use of sustainable cotton, and traceability. This company scored 0.5/19.5, making it one of the weakest performing companies. [Source 2016][More on Human Rights] 35.3% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017 This company received a score of 35.3/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor. [Source 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting] Farm animal welfare The 2017 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 5, "On the Business Agenda but Limited Evidence of Implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst. [Source 2018][More on Animal Rights]	Supply chain sourcing This 2013 report by The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) investigates the labour and human rights risks in supply chain sourcing. This company is identified on page 21 as a company which sources products from countries with known systemic labour and human rights concerns. [Source 2013][More on Human Rights] Political donations According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $638,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC). [Source 2018][More on Politics] Climate action commitments As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: put a price on carbon; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty. [Source 2017][More on Climate Change] Sustainability claims This company has sustainability claims on its website in the areas of sourcing, community, environment and indigenous engagement. [Source 2019][More on Sustainability Reporting] Modern Slavery statement California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement. [Source 2017][More on Human Rights] 43/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 43/100. [Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

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New Retail category and Duopoly chart
5th Apr 2014 — Our website has a new category – Retail. It covers all the major supermarkets, department stores, fuel & convenience stores, hardware stores, liquor stores and toy stores. Woolworths and Wesfarmers dominate all these sectors, but there are other options. Are your shopping choices supporting gaming, worker exploitation or anticompetitive practices? It's estimated that 40 cents in every dollar we spend goes to a Woolworths or Wesfarmers (owner of Coles) retail entity. See our interactive Duopoly chart to find out more about the retail brands they own.  [source]

Wesfarmers buys Coles Group
1st Nov 2007 — Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group Ltd for $22 billion in November 2007.Wesfarmers now owns Coles, Bi-Lo, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart, liquor retailers (1st Choice Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars), fuel & convenience outlets (Coles Express), online stores (Coles Online, Pharmacy Direct). Plus other divisions in the areas of coal mining, energy, insurance, chemicals &fertilisers, and industrial & safety products.   [source]