Wesfarmers

OVERALL
Owned	AUS
Rating

Retail, energy, insurance, chemicals

Founded in WA in 1914 as a farmers' cooperative, today Wesfarmers operations include supermarkets and department stores; home improvement and office supplies; coal mining; 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.

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PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Wesfarmers Ltd
Australian Packaging Covenant signatory Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation. [Source 2017][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 2017][More on Workers Rights]	Gaming Coles owns 89 hotels and over 3000 poker machines. Coles and Woolworths have been criticised by anti-gambling campaigners such as Get Up! and senator Nick Xenophon for facilitating problem gambling, targeting socially disadvantaged communities and refusing to introduce bet limits. [Source 2012][More on Gaming] 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]	Coal Mining Wesfarmers owns one coal mine plus a 40% interest in a second coal mine. Wesfarmers sold it's Premier Coal open-cut mine to Chinese miner Yanzhou Coal Mining in 2011. [Source 2011][More on Climate Change] 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] Tobacco - indirect Involved in sale of tobacco-related products as a non-core business. [More on Product Safety] Political donations According to the democracy4sale.org website, this company donated $97,500 to Australia's major political parties between 2009 and 2013, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC). [Source 2013][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] Policies on Fair wage and decent living Wesfarmers is mentioned in the 'Workplace human rights Reporting: a study of Australian garment and retail companies' paper as having policies on 'Fair wage and decent living' - stating that they were paying their employees in accordance with local and national wage awards and statutes. Information gathered was from annual reports, CSR reports, and the corporate website, for the 2009/2010 year. Policy in there areas are particularly important in the clothing and electronics industries (though policy does not imply compliance). [Source 2012][More on Human Rights] Sustainability Scorecard In the section 'Looking after our environment' in its 2012 Sustainability Report on its website, the company reports on performance with greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use, waste and packaging. Scorecards for divisions (e.g. Coles, Bunnings, Target, Kmart) are provided. [Source 2012][More on Sustainability Reporting] Alcohol - direct involvement Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business. (Does not include sale of alcoholic beverages as a non-core business). [More on Product Safety]

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Related News

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]