Responsibility | Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Responsibility stories

Pots of flowers with “native plant” tags

Plant local, think global

If you’re going to be out there gardening this season, but haven’t thought about what to include, native plants could be the answer. They’re beautiful, colourful and good for local wildlife. Native plants can help our ecosystems get back on track.

April 22, 2021

Man standing in grocery store produce department

Community

Dave cares for his community

When Dave Morello, franchise owner of Morello’s Your Independent Grocer (YIG) in Peterborough, Ont., started volunteering with the YMCA of Central East Ontario 15 years ago, it was because he wanted to give back to his community. “We employ a large number of people here, we provide a service to the community, we obviously want to attract the community to shop at our business,” he says. “But I also felt a responsibility to support the community, too.”

April 21, 2021

Environment

Getting the hang of it

Walk into Joe Fresh at the Real Canadian Superstore^® location in Langley, B.C., and you might feel like you’ve stepped into an upscale boutique. Women’s dresses, shirts and pants hang neatly on sturdy, wooden hangers. The store is one of five in Ontario and British Columbia that have been piloting wooden hangers and phasing out plastic ones.

April 19, 2021

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Environment

Sourcing

Community

Environment

Sourcing

Community

We're reducing the impact of our operations on the environment. We're improving our approach to waste management, packaging, energy use and more.

Carbon footprint

We have a significant carbon footprint and recognize our responsibility in the fight against climate change. We’re committed to being part of the solution.

Our Carbon Reduction Strategy

How we're reducing food waste

Some food waste is unavoidable, but most of it is unnecessary and unacceptable. We’re tackling this issue head-on with an ambitious plan to reduce our food waste.

Explore food waste

Our approach to plastics

There is too much plastic waste in Canada. The impact of plastics overuse is a growing concern for our business and our customers. Our industry is a part of the problem and we can be part of the solution.

Explore plastics

Environmental commitment

Our commitment to the environment goes beyond complying with all laws and regulations. We also set our own policies, procedures, programs and targets to reduce our impact on the environment. We review these often to ensure continuous improvement.

Our commitment

Environment at a glance

13 billion

plastic bags eliminated from our stores since 2007.

29.7%

reduction in our carbon footprint since 2011.

11 million kilograms

of food diverted from landfills in 2019

Customers expect our products to be safe and responsibly sourced. We stay true to our values all the way through our supply chain. We promote safe and sustainable products and support Canadian suppliers.

Ethical sourcing

We have high ethical sourcing standards, and expect our suppliers to uphold the same values and principles. Through our Integrity Action Line we’re making it easier for workers and suppliers to speak up when our standards, values and principles are compromised.

Explore ethical sourcing

Human rights

We protect human rights and have taken significant steps to improve safety and transparency in our international supply chain, specifically for manufacturing and materials procurement. We continue to collaborate with stakeholders to improve the lives of factory workers globally.

Our position on human rights

Animal welfare

We’re one of Canada’s largest buyers and sellers of meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Our customers expect our food to be safe, high quality, responsibly sourced and produced in a humane way.

Explore animal welfare

Sourcing at a glance

100%

of President’s Choice^® shell eggs are sourced from hens raised in cage-free environments.

More than 400

Canadian growers and packers supply produce for our stores.

Locally-grown produce

We're proud to offer an array of Canadian-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. With a focus on innovation, we plan to increase locally-grown purchases by $150 million by 2025.

Commodities

Our customers expect healthy and safe products that come from sustainable sources. We monitor commodities that are at risk, like seafood and palm oil. We have controls in place to make sure our products meet our sourcing standards.

Explore commodities

Chemicals and antibiotics

When it comes to chemicals, antibiotics and GMOs, we’re committed to the highest levels of safety and quality.

Explore chemicals and antibiotics

We make a positive difference in our communities. We focus on charities that tackle childhood hunger and put women’s health first, and fund research that advances solutions to sustainable food challenges.

A woman and a man working together sorting cans of food in a warehouse.

Diversity and inclusion

We are building a culture that is inclusive of all Canadians. One where our colleagues can be who they are regardless of race, gender, ability or orientation. We embrace and respect differences. We denounce acts of discrimination and bias. And we support vulnerable groups in our workplaces and our communities.

Charitable impacts and giving

Our charitable activities address childhood hunger and educating children about nutrition, putting women’s health first and local charitable giving. If your organization has a program that directly helps those in your community, we may be able to help.

Community at a glance

44% reduction

Reduced colleague injuries by 44% over the past 10 years.

5.4 million kilograms donated

Donated 5.4 million kilograms of food to food banks and food recovery agencies in 2019.

Loblaw Scholarship Program

The Loblaw Scholarship, a program dedicated to promoting higher education, provides financial support for those actively employed by Loblaw. Up to 200 scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to our colleagues in 2021. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time post-secondary or undergraduate degree program at a Canadian college or university in the Fall 2021 / Winter 2022 school year.

Disaster response

When a disaster happens, our colleagues step up. We fund relief programs and organizations to do what’s right for the communities we serve. Each year we also partner with Canadian Red Cross and UNICEF Canada to help their emergency efforts at home and abroad.

Our partners

Have responsibility questions?

csr@loblaw.ca

As a part of our culture of integrity, it is important that non-compliant and unethical matters are reported.

Call the Integrity Action Line: 1-800-525-7868 (available in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Spanish and Korean languages); or visit www.integrityactionline.com (available in English, French and Spanish languages).

The way we do business

Responsibility stories

Apply for sponsorship

Our partners

2020 CSR Report

Our reports

Code of Conduct and Ethical Sourcing

Carbon Reduction Strategy

Policies and Statements

Have responsibility questions?