Below are a few of our significant milestones achieved since the launch: Rollover for additional highlights
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
Woolworths launched the BEE Employee Share Option Scheme, with the intention of empowering and benefiting Woolworths employees
Beauty Without Cruelty approved the entire Woolworths private label range of cosmetics and toiletries. In 2019, the WBeauty range became vegan
WHL Group was the winner of the World Retail Congress Responsible Retailer of the Year Award. Won again in 2009 and 2012 (finalist in 2016 and 2017)
Woolworths Farming for the Future and Fishing for the Future programmes launched
Woolworths became the first South African company to become a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Country Road Group launched the Fashion Trade partnership with the Australian and New Zealand Red Cross
WHL Group named as one of the 16 Sustainability Champions in the Developing World by the World Economic Forum
Partnership between Woolworths and the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) launched, the first initiative of its kind for African retail
Woolworths recognised as one of the 10 Most Innovative Companies in Africa in 2012 by Forbes
Woolworths joined SEDEX, a unique, innovative, not-for-profit web-based platform that helps companies to manage ethical supply chain risk. Country Road Group subsequently joined too
Woolworths initiated and introduced a new on-pack recycling label (OPRL), intended to assist recycling efforts in South Africa by making it easier for customers to recycle correctly
Woolworths joined Better Cotton, followed by Country Road Group in 2016
Woolworths launched Discovery HealthyFoodTM programme to promote healthy eating
WHL Group joined Canopy and the Leather Working Group and Woolworths joined the Roundtable on Responsible Soy
GBJ STRATEGY ROLLED OUT TO COUNTRY ROAD GROUP AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, GROUP-WIDE GOALS TO 2020 ANNOUNCED
WHL Group became the first retailer to sign up to the EP100 initiative to double energy productivity by 2020, a target which we significantly outperformed
WHL Group Listed at #40 in Fortune’s third annual ‘Change the World’ List of Companies That Are Doing Well By Doing Good
WHL Group launched new packaging commitments to phase-out single use plastic shopping bags, and to ensure that all our packaging is reusable or recyclable
WHL Group became the first African retailer to have an approved science-based target
Country Road Group published Tier 1 supplier details on its website
WHL Group exceeded its five-year goal to contribute more than R3.5 billion to our communities across Africa, Australia and New Zealand
LAUNCHED REFRESHED GROUP GBJ STRATEGY, VISION 2025+, WITH GROUP-WIDE GOALS TO 2025 AND BEYOND
WHL Group launched the Inclusive Justice Initiative (IJI) programme
WHL Group became the first major South African retailer to become a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles
Woolworths, in a South African retailer first, published its 1st tier Fashion, Beauty and Home private label suppliers
WHL Group became a foundation member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, an alliance of companies, trade unions, and NGOs working together to collectively promote respect for workers’ rights in supply chains
Woolworths, in a major South African retailer first, rolled out 42 electric vehicles in its online delivery fleet
