Kmart is a chain of budget-price department stores. The company operates 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with its head office located in Melbourne. Kmart Group, the department store division of Wesfarmers, also owns and operates Target Australia and online retailer Catch.com.au.
The first store was opened on 30 April 1969 in Burwood East, a suburb of Melbourne. Kmart expanded to New Zealand in 1988 with their store in Henderson, Auckland.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia
Note – Wesfarmers also owns and operates Bunnings Warehouse.
Woke Rating
We rate Kmark as moderately woke (woke lite).
Woke Summary
- Virtue Signalling – not much evidence of virtue signalling.
- Gender Ideology & LGBTQ – some evidence of Gender Ideology and LGBTQ agenda. In 2019 Kmart did sell a family pack of dolls with same-sex parents. Kmart is committed to achieving 40:40:20 gender balance (40% women, 40% men, and 20% gender diverse).
- Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) – Kmart has DEI policies. Applies gender-based recruitment targets. Committed to 40:40:20 gender split.
- Climate Change – Supports the Paris Agreement and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Has emissions reduction targets. Has ESG policies.
Woke Policies
Wokeness and virtue signalling distracts a company from its core business, which is to make a profit for shareholders while delivering excellent, affordable products and services to its customers. Businesses should not be distracted from this core purpose, otherwise there will be unnecessary costs which are ultimately passed onto consumers. Woke ideologies are typically unfriendly towards the traditional family unit.
Below are some woke policies and initiatives from Kmart…
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+
Kiwis offers family pack of dolls with same-sex parents
Leading up to Christmas 2019, Kmart released three versions of an assorted family pack where shoppers could choose from two dads, two mums or a mother and a father, depending on their preference.
“At Kmart, we understand that families come in all shapes and sizes, which is why we are proud to offer dolls and toys that appeal to all different types of families, including those with same-sex parents.”
Committed to 40:40:20 gender split
“By December 2030 Kmart is committed to achieving 40:40:20 gender balance (40% women, 40% men, and 20% gender diverse) in leadership roles across all Kmart business functions.”
www.kmart.co.nz/genderbalance/
LGBTQIA+ awareness training
“In the 2023 financial year, 14 Kmart stores took part in the Welcome Here Project as part of a pilot to build LGBTQIA+ awareness and inclusion. The pilot provided team members and leaders with facilitated and online LGBTQIA+ awareness training, resources and the opportunity to wear allyship and pronoun stickers on name badges. Once training was completed, stores displayed ‘Welcome Here’ stickers, letting customers know Kmart is a safe place to shop for the LGBTQIA+ community.”
www.wesfarmers.com.au/sustainability/fy2023/our-businesses/kmart-group/diversity-and-inclusion
**********************************************
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Kmart has DEI policies and applies gender recruitment targets. Has ESG policies.
Committed to 40:40:20 gender split
“By December 2030 Kmart is committed to achieving 40:40:20 gender balance (40% women, 40% men, and 20% gender diverse) in leadership roles across all Kmart business functions.”
www.kmart.co.nz/genderbalance/
“Kmart Group continues to maintain 40:40:20 gender balance across leadership roles, with 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men and 20 per cent either gender or gender diverse.”
“Kmart and Target have continued their focus on gender equity.”
www.wesfarmers.com.au/sustainability/fy2023/our-businesses/kmart-group/diversity-and-inclusion
Climate Change
Supports the Paris Agreement, Agenda 2030, and has emissions reduction targets. Committed to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Has ESG policies.
From Kmart website ….
“By July 2030, we will achieve NetZero Scope 1 and 2 emissions in our owned and controlled operations (stores, distribution centres and offices).”
“The effects of climate change on our planet, customers, the economy, and the community can’t be ignored. Kmart Group supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions (emissions) in line with the 2015 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Paris Climate Agreement (Paris Agreement) to limit temperature change to 1.5OC degree pathway.”
“Scope 1 and 2 emissions in our owned and controlled operations (store network and distribution centres) contribute around 10 per cent of our total emissions, whilst Scope 3 emissions (occurring in our supply chains and product use/disposal) account for around 90 per cent.”
“Within the Scope 3 component, FY22 inventory data indicates that emissions associated with customer use of sold electrical appliances represent 68 per cent of total emissions; materials in clothing and soft-home represent 10 per cent; and manufacturing processes amount to 22 per cent.”
“Delivering greater energy and material efficiency in our supply chain and products will be a priority for our business over the long term.”
www.kmart.co.nz/energyefficiency/
Positive Policies & Activities
Parental Leave
Paid Parental Leave which offers primary carers 12 weeks paid parental leave and secondary carers 2 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender.
Local store investment program
Every year Kmart supports hundreds of schools, kindergartens and local community groups with their fundraising efforts. The program has been designed to enable Kmart stores across Australia and New Zealand to support causes important to customers, Kmart team members and the communities that surround them.
The Salvation Army
Kmart partners with The Salvation Army to assist those in need at Christmas, and throughout the whole year via the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal. In addition Kmart works with The Salvation Army to provide support during times of crisis, such as when communities are impacted by natural disasters.
Source: www.kmart.co.nz/bettertogether/
Note – This page was updated as of 20th May 2024. Please contact us if you’ve discovered other relevant information about Kmart or other businesses pushing woke agendas. You should also contact us if you discover some positively woke-free businesses.