The Workplace
For the 52 weeks to 25 January 2009
JJB recognises that it has a duty to ensure that its business is conducted in a socially responsible manner meeting high standards in both social and environmental behaviour. Through its employees, the Group aims to comply with all applicable laws and, where possible, exceed best practice conditions in both the national and global markets within which it operates.
The Board is responsible for corporate social responsibility and it has made the following commitments:
- Endeavours and initiatives are focused towards the provision of ethically produced, quality value for money products, through a safe and satisfied workforce in a way that benefits the communities within which the Group operates.
- Minimise any negative social and environmental impact within all areas of its operation.
- Through the operation of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, monitor the effectiveness of controls in place to manage corporate social responsibility risks and changes in new legislation.
- Apply guiding principles of corporate social responsibility relating to ethical codes of conduct and worldwide labour standards, environmental impact and social and community issues.
Ethical codes of conduct and worldwide labour standards
JJB seeks to provide its customers with high quality value for money products, sourced from suppliers and manufacturers who can clearly demonstrate compliance with JJB’s own codes of practice as well as internationally accepted standards. JJB’s Code of Business Ethics, the Supplier Code of Practice and the Factory Code of Conduct, which are set out on the website www.jjbcorporate.co.uk, have been accepted by JJB’s principal suppliers and source manufacturers. The Codes are based upon the internationally accepted principles of the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code of Labour Standards and the Model Code of Conduct devised by the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry.
JJB cares about the labour standards within its global supply chain and expects its suppliers to demonstrate similar concerns. In order to obtain assurance that the factories used by JJB’s suppliers and source manufacturers comply with the Factory Code of Conduct and so promote sustained improvement in factory working conditions, a factory inspection methodology is in operation. The factory inspection process ends with follow-up inspections to ensure the Factory Code of Conduct is being adhered to.
The majority of JJB’s products are purchased from the UK subsidiaries of major international suppliers who generally source their products in the Far East. Through regular meetings with suppliers JJB tries to ensure that those manufacturing units have comprehensive compliance procedures and good working practices in place
JJB applies the same level of corporate social responsibility commitment towards all its own workplaces thereby ensuring a safe and healthy, yet challenging and rewarding work environment. JJB has a, a Code of Business Ethics, a Health and Safety Policy, an Equal OpportunitiesPolicy and a Whistleblowing policy, together with high standards of employment practice. These policies, together with store work procedures, are set out in the Retail Operations Manual at each workplace.
The Group’s policies are designed to value the human rights of all employees, whether directly employed, sub-contracted or employed within the supply chain.
Environmental impact
The Board takes into account the environmental impact of its decisions in the decision-making process. JJB’s environmental management system operates in conjunction with the risk management framework covering core business management processes and has 5 environmental principles:
- Reduce adverse environmental impacts arising from the Group operations
- Ensure effective and efficient use of materials and energy
- Operate a waste management system to minimise waste and maximise waste recovery
- Ensure compliance with relevant environmental laws and codes of best practice
- Incorporate the principle of sustainable development through a systematic approach to environmental management in order to achieve continual improvement
The Board’s policy is to source energy efficient plant for its new retail stores wherever possible. In association with The Carbon Trust, the Board is committed to a Carbon Management Programme which aims to reduce the Group’s “carbon footprint” and point the way towards achieving a “carbon neutral” position.
The Board is committed to reducing the Group’s landfill waste from all its operations. During the 52 weeks to 25 January 2009, JJB recycled 39 tonnes of paper which would otherwise have been sent to landfill. Wherever possible, cardboard (the major packaging constituent in the business) and plastic are baled and passed to a recycling business for reprocessing. During the 52 weeks to 25 January 2009, JJB recycled plastic totalling 265 tonnes. The recycling of cardboard fell for the second year in succession to 3,091tonnes (2008: 3,781 tonnes). This further reduction in cardboard recycling is a reflection of the reduced usage of packaging by JJB Sports and the use of recycled tubs to transfer stock to stores.
Social and community issues
JJB values the relationships with both its customers and the wider community. The Group provides a valuable service to the community by supplying a wide range of competitively priced sports clothing, footwear and accessories through its retail stores to enable the general public to take part in healthy, sporting activities. JJB continues to support local and national charities as well as supporting local sporting teams. Currently, we loan two of our sites, rent free to registered charities (our Leigh site to Wigan and Leigh Hospice and a site in Dundee to DEBRA). A summary of the principal amounts of money raised during the accounting year through JJB activities is given below:
- A total of £13,000 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Relief through the sale of football badges and discounts on sporting leisurewear. Since the campaign began in 1999 over £1.2 million has been donated to this charity.
- A total of £16,500 was raised for Breakthrough Breast Cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2008 through sales of Adidas pink ribbons.
Corporate social responsibilities within JJB
The Corporate social responsibility committee is responsible to the Board for monitoring the effectiveness of controls in place to manage corporate social responsibility risks.
The Property Associate Director reports to the Board concerning all employee workplace and occupational health and safety matters and concerning the effectiveness of the Group’s policies in these matters.