Comparison of Sustainability Approaches: Woolworths vs Qantas

This paper compares the sustainability approaches of Woolworths and Qantas, two selected organizations. It discusses their core business activities, issues faced, sustainable development goals, and adherence to stated values. Both companies are in the efficiency stage of sustainability.

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BUSINESS, SOCIETY AND PLANET
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Introduction
Transparency and accountability are considered as the two major driving forces for any
business organization in the constantly evolving business environment. The sustainability report
and the corporate social responsibility report of the business organization provides information
about the activities of the business organization and this information is required by the
government officials, investors, customers and clients of the business organization. The
sustainability report of the business organization is published for the motive of communicating to
the company information and the activities to the community and the government officials. The
purpose of this paper is to compare the two selected organizations Woolworths and Quanta’s and
analyze their approaches towards sustainability and their efforts. The paper discusses on the
range of issues dealt by the selected organizations and compares the sustainability reports of the
two organizations. It describes the core business activities of the two selected business
organizations. It discusses on the range of issues and activities faced by the business
organizations. It identifies the sustainability development goals and its reflection on the two
companies. Lastly, the report concludes by reflecting on the sustainability reports of the
companies and their compliance with the states values of the business organizations.

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Discussion
1. Core business activities of two companies
Qantas was founded in the year 1920 in Queensland and has expanded to be one of
Australia’s largest international and domestic airlines. The organization is known to be the
world’s largest airline for long distance and considered to be one of the strongest brands in
the country. The company is known for its excellence in safety, reliability, and maintenance
and customer service. The core business activity of Quantas is the transportation of
passengers using two complementary airline brands that is Jet star and Qantas. The
organization mainly operates in the regional, domestic as well as international services. The
portfolio of the company ranges from Quantas freight enterprises to Qantas frequent flyer
(Adams, 2017).
On the other hand, Woolworth’s groups are one of the largest retail organizations in
Australia. The company has become a purpose led organization. The main motive of the
business organization is to create better experience and service together for the betterment of
the future. It creates a framework within the business organization in the ways in which it
plans to operate for the betterment of the future for their customers as well as the community
in which it services along with the shareholders. The core values of the company is the care
deeply, do the right thing always and to listen and learn. The key priority of the company is
to focus on key growth drivers of the business organization for ensuring positive outcomes
for its potential customers as well as the employees of the organization and grow shareholder
value. The company has been evolving with the changes in the customer needs and demands

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(AO Dos Santos et al., 2014). The main priority of the company is food and everyday needs
of the retail ecosystem as well as [partnering with the group’s range and services.
2. Ranges of issues dealt by the companies
Woolworths has been facing challenges and issues as there is slow consumer cycle and slow
growth rate in the market. The focus on the consumer has been shifted from fresh foods and
broader categories of grocery. Further, there has been lack of product innovation by the business
organization and lack of creativity. The organization has been facing issues with its
communication to the stakeholders of the organization. It has failed to keep up with the
expectations of the consumers. The company has lacked integration of its marketing and
communication strategies at various levels of the business organization. The growing challenges
and issues of the business organization have led to decrease in the share prices. Moreover, rise in
competition in the market especially from Coles and Aldi has reduced profitability of the
company (Bocken, et al., 2014). However, the company has covered up the issues by
maximizing its communication impact through various integration tools such as sales promotion,
direct mailing to the consumer, advertising, telemarketing and increase online presence. Further,
the company has also taken approach of excessive stock outs.
On the other hand, Quantas has been facing issues due to the increased level of
competition in the market especially from the big Middle East carriers. The company has also
suffered high level of competition from the local competitors such as Ryan air, which offers low
cost carriers and eatables into its domestic and other short haul businesses in the market.
However, the company has tactfully covered up its issues by offering full service airline with

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high standards and a proper, efficient workforce (Evans, et al., 2017). This has enabled the
organization to gain the attention of the Australian people and enable them to buy tickets with
the cheapest option.
3. Identification of sustainable development goals
The retail sector is considered to be the driving force for the economy. The retail sector plays
an important role to boost the economic health of the industry and sustainable growth. With the
help of industrial strategy and good work plan, steps have been taken to create a stronger and
fairer society. Therefore, the retail organizations must fulfill the ambitions and initiative its
business operations and activities towards better retail and better world initiative. Woolworths
needs to address the human right issues in the business organization such as embedding policies
towards eliminating the fees for recruitment and support the employees by providing a safer and
fair working environment (Klettner, Clarke & Boersma, 2014). The company must take initiate
to focus on transitioning into a more sustainable and environment free business model. It needs
to adapt to a more responsible sourcing policies and practices. Working in collaboration with the
consumers and the government are the key to successful implementation of sustainable
development goals. It needs to take initiative to reduce the greenhouse gas emission and work
towards eliminating deforestation. Further, the company needs to take part with the government,
civil society, members of the community and the private sector and coordinate towards building
a better retail and better world. It must take initiative to cope up with the challenges and the
issues faced by the whole retail industry such as modern slavery, sustainable economic growth,
responsible consumption and production. As per the sustainability report Woolworths has been
providing safe, responsible and more reliably source products. The company has been

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encouraging diversity and embraces the goals which support diversity and aim towards tolerance
and respect. It promotes gender quality by leaving no gap in salary for male and female
employees.
Sustainable developments involves mainly three areas for development like economy,
environment and society and the business organizations need to balance the interests for
producing beneficial results for the people. As per the sustainability report, it has been identified
that Quantas supports 15 out of 17 sustainable development goals starting from decent service to
reduce inequalities. The business organization has been continuing to grow and expand in a
highly sustainable manner (Morioka, Evans & de Carvalho, 2016). The company can strive to
become more efficient in the years to come. The company has set standards as well as
regulations that are essential for safety, security, capacity and environmental protection against
the set priorities and standards. Quantas has been operating with high level of integrity through
safety, people, society and environmental policies. It has a strong corporate governance and
transparency in reporting.
4. Sustainability phase of the companies
As per the analysis, it has been identified that both the companies are in the efficiency stage
of sustainability and focuses mainly on transformation and risk reductions. The companies have
been identifying impacts of its operations in the society and its customers to enhance the service
provided to them. Quantas has been operating with high level of integrity and using
sustainability to inspire performance improvements. Woolworths has been dealing with its
business operations to overcome obstacles and assessing risks. Woolworths has been taking

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initiatives towards a healthy environment impacting value chain and working with suppliers,
operations and service providers (Schaltegger et al., 2016). The company has been moving
towards a circular environment and sourcing more environmentally and sustainable
commodities. Further is has taken step towards zero food waste and improve its recyclability
through brand packaging and contributing towards a circular environment. The company has
responded towards reducing of carbon emissions and innovate more with naturals refrigerants
and minimize refrigerant leakage in the stores. Therefore, Woolworths is at the efficiency stage
of sustainability and risk reduction (Schaltegger et al., 2016).
On the other hand, Quantas has been carrying Australian to their destination while
minimizing impact on the environment. The company has been taking initiatives thorough
carbon offsetting and reducing of waste. They are highly committed towards reducing carbon
emissions by 50% by the year 2050. The company is supported by its government activities and
its robust governance processes ensures performance of the organization and monitoring of risks
(Morioka, Evans & de Carvalho, 2016). The company highly supports the global priority of
limiting global warming. It has been playing an active role in meeting the sustainability goals
and meeting the ambitious targets of the company. Further, the company has been taking
initiatives to increase fuel efficiency through fleet modernization and other operational
improvements. The company utilizes bio-fuels as well as carbon offsets. Therefore, it can be said
that the company is also in an efficiency stage of sustainability.
5. Adherence to the stated values

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As per the stated values of Quantas, it operates its business activities to minimize its impacts
on the environment. The company leads its operations towards sustainability and carbon offsets
as well as waste reduction initiatives. As per the sustainability reports the company has adhering
to the stated values. The Qantas group has been operating to satisfy the customers, offering
health security and other environment and regulatory requirements. the environmental activities
of the business organization are highly supported with robust governance processes and ensure
performance (Evans, et al., 2017). The company has a unique partnership with other
organizations which uses research and experiments for enhancing their customer insights as well
as on environmental sustainability. The customer has played a key role in covering the
environmental issues. The company has been working towards fuel efficiency and reduction of
environmental impact. It has taken initiatives for fleet modernization and the industry standards.
Henceforth, it can be said that the company has complied and carried out its business activities as
per the stated values.
On the other hand, Woolworth’s group has also embraced its [preset core values of the
company in areas such as labor and human rights, anti-corruption and fair and secure working
environment. The core values of the business organization define what the company stands for
and its ways of operating the business (Morioka, Evans & de Carvalho, 2016). The sustainability
work of the business organization states the positive contribution of the company towards its
customers, employees and the community as a whole along with living their value. As the
company deeply cares, the company has implemented an approach for safeguarding the human
rights of the workers and its suppliers. The company listens and learns; thereby removing plastic
bags from the stores has been their initiative towards environment (Schaltegger et al., 2016). As
the company ‘do the right thing’, it has implemented new technologies to reduce emission and

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footprints of their activities. Further, it has genuine commitment towards build trust and
confidence rather than just words.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above analysis, it can be stated that the both the selected
organizations Woolworths and Quantas has been taking initiatives towards sustainability. The
approach of both the companies towards sustainability is massive. Woolworths has taken lot of
initiatives towards human rights policies and adhered with the stated values of the business
organization. On the other hand, Quantas has also been taking initiatives to reduce global
temperature by utilizing bio-fuels and other energy efficient resources. It complies with the states
values and standards of the industry. Both the companies are in the efficiency stage of
sustainability, working towards sustainability as per the sustainability report. The report has
compared the sustainability report of the companies and discussed on their approach towards
sustainability. It has identified the sustainability development goals and discussed their extent to
which it has been addressed.

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References
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