John West’s People’s Choice Win

This article was contributed by Sustainability Tracker.

What users said they want from brands and their sustainability reporting

John West, part of Simplot Australia, won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Sustainability Tracker Impact Awards. Unlike the program’s other categories, which are scored by an independent judging panel, the People’s Choice Award is decided entirely by the Sustainability Tracker community, the businesses, consumers and industry members who use the platform to research and compare sustainability claims.

John West’s win was a huge vote of confidence from everyday shoppers, proof that when sustainability information is clear, honest and easy to understand, they notice, and they show up to celebrate it.

Why the People’s Choice Award is a bit Different

Community voting rewards clarity and relevance to daily purchasing decisions rather than the depth of a sustainability strategy document. John West’s win suggests its Sustainability Tracker profile succeeded on exactly that measure: everyday Australians could see, understand and back the claims being made about the brand’s sustainability progress. 

Behind John West’s People’s Choice Win

Behind that John West tuna tin sits one of the most thorough sustainability efforts in Australian seafood, and it’s one John West is genuinely proud to put on show.

The standout is Trace Your Tuna, a tool that lets shoppers scan a can and see the species, catch location, fishing method and community impact behind it, believed to be the first tool of its kind for seafood on Australian shelves. It’s the kind of feature that turns a sustainability claim into something a shopper can actually verify for themselves, in seconds, standing at the shelf.

Add to that 96% of John West’s range now certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, and it’s easy to see why John West’s Sustainability Tracker profile gave everyday shoppers so much to get behind.

Hear it Straight from John West

For anyone wanting the full story, Our CEO, Kiarne Treacy sat down with Phoebe Dowling, Director of Global Food Sustainability at Simplot, on the Sustainable Transformation Podcast to unpack exactly how John West approaches seafood sourcing, certification and traceability.

Listen to “How Sustainable Is the Tuna on Your Shelf?” with Simplot Australia’s Phoebe Dowling

What This Means for Brands Watching the 2026 Awards

Nominations for the 2026 Sustainability Tracker Impact Awards have now closed, and judging is already underway. Xero has returned as presenting partner for a third consecutive year, continuing its focus on helping small and mid-sized businesses take practical, evidenced steps on sustainability.

For any brand building or refining its Sustainability Tracker profile during this year’s People’s Choice voting period, John West’s win points to three practical takeaways:

• Plain language wins votes
• Evidence still has to back it up
• Visibility drives votes

Rally Your Own Community

The People’s Choice Award is the one category where your own network can directly decide the outcome. Brands that actively campaign for votes during the voting window, through staff emails, customer newsletters, social posts and even in-store or point-of-sale prompts, consistently perform at the top of the group.

Asking staff and customers to vote gives them a reason to engage directly with your sustainability work, and turns the award into a shared moment for the whole business. Staff get to celebrate something the whole business contributed to. Customers get a low-effort way to back a brand they already trust. Framing your campaign around genuine appreciation, thanking the people who make your transparency claims worth making, tends to land better than a straightforward vote request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sustainability Tracker People’s Choice Award?

It’s one of the award categories in the Sustainability Tracker Impact Awards, decided by public vote rather than by the independent judging panel. 

Who won the People’s Choice Award in 2025?

John West (Simplot Australia) won the 2025 People’s Choice Award, voted on by the Sustainability Tracker community.

Is judging already underway for the 2026 Impact Awards?

Yes, judging is underway across all categories. Businesses can view the current award categories and criteria and submit a profile-based entry.

How is the People’s Choice Award different from the other categories?

The other categories, including Transparency, Transformation and Circularity, are scored by a panel of independent sustainability, ESG and audit experts against published criteria. The People’s Choice Award is decided by public vote instead.