In the next part of our ongoing sustainable series, we take a look at the latest update from online global furniture retailer Wayfair.
Wayfair
The company recently released its third-annual Corporate Responsibility Report, showcasing the company’s progress and initiatives across sustainability, social impact, and diversity, equity and inclusion in 2023. This year’s report, titled “Bringing Impact Home,” marks the second consecutive year Wayfair has referenced the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) frameworks, reaffirming the company’s commitment to data-driven decision-making.
Alongside its Corporate Responsibility Report, Wayfair announced its commitment to achieving zero waste across its global operations by 2030. This ambitious target aims to divert over 90% of Wayfair’s operational waste from landfills and incineration. Along with the company’s goal of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63% by 2035, the zero waste initiative highlights Wayfair’s dedication to driving climate action and more effectively reusing, recycling and reducing waste.
Taking a closer look at the sustainability-side of the report, Wayfair has also doubled the number of third-party certified products in Wayfair’s Shop Sustainability program to over 33,000 items, while 66.5% of Wayfair’s electricity consumption in North America will be covered by contracted energy offtake from its participation in the Liberty Solar virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). “In 2023, we signed onsite solar agreements for three of our fulfilment centres,” the retailer said.
“These agreements cover both onsite solar as well as battery storage facilities and will lead to lower power rates for our operations and a profit share for excess energy generation. We also signed a community solar agreement for a fourth fulfilment centre. While this agreement does not directly benefit our facility, it contributes to the local community by improving the energy mix of the local grid and reducing utility rates for members.”
Wayfair is also focusing on more sustainable transportation. “We are tracking emissions reduced through transportation efficiency projects and exploring ways to enhance these reductions through collaborations with our key carrier partners.” In the UK, through optimisation of the Wayfair Delivery Network, the business reduced 29% of transportation miles in 2023.
Waste management programmes help keep usable products and materials away from landfills and incineration. In North America, Germany, and the UK, together with its partners, Wayfair is introducing new processes and waste collection equipment to improve diversion rates and reduce costs. Wayfair is working to improve the sustainability of its packaging too. “In 2023, we achieved a global 90% recyclability rate for our purchased packaging, including boxes, wraps, fillers, and mailers.
“We were able to increase recyclability by 8% over 2022 by expanding the use of paper-based mailers with 100% recycled content in the US and shifting further to fiber-based recyclable packing fillers in the UK and Germany. Our procurement team also includes requirements for recycled content and recyclability in their processes.” The percentage of recycled content in paper-based packaging procured by Wayfair globally reached 34% in 2023.
“I’m proud to be sharing this year’s Corporate Responsibility Report, which highlights the important progress we’ve made towards our ongoing support of our communities, our people and our planet,” adds Kate Gulliver, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at Wayfair.
“While this report is a retrospective of our impact and progress over the past year, we know that this work is never truly done. Looking ahead, we remain committed to investing our time and resources in these crucial areas, and I’m thrilled to be adding our zero waste goal as a key commitment.”
