our focus areas
Our ESG strategy represents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference
Our ESG strategy represents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference
Our ESG review in 2022 focused on prioritising our activities to ensure they fully align with our new strategy, purpose and vision and meet the evolving expectation of stakeholders.
Our ESG strategy represents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference, as well as to be a platform to demonstrate our strategic risk management of ESG issues.
A full materiality study, which combined both quantitative data-led analysis and qualitative stakeholder interviews, highlighted eight key areas of focus.
Explore the drop-down boxes below to find out more about each of these eight areas.
Why it is important?
We understand society’s concerns about the health risks of smoking and recognise our role in helping to reduce the harm caused by combustible tobacco products. Our ambition is to make a meaningful contribution to tobacco harm reduction.
Clearly, the best health-related outcome is for adult smokers to stop smoking. However, the next best option is to offer potentially harm reduced alternative products to those consumers who are uninterested or unwilling to stop smoking.
Our progress in 2022
We seek to substantiate the reduced harm potential of NGP through our rigorous scientific research in the laboratory, the clinic and once products are in market.
We have refined our scientific assessment framework (SAF), which is a multi-stage, multiyear testing and research programme designed to evaluate the harm reduction potential of each of our NGP relative to combustible cigarettes.
Why is it important?
As identified in our materiality assessment, climate change is a priority for us. We know that climate change represents a potential long-term risk across the whole of our value chain and to society in general.
Disruption in climate and energy has the potential to impact our business from challenges as diverse as crop failure, asset destruction and interruption in distribution.
Our progress in 2022
Our first renewable energy site, the Skruf plant in Savsjo, Sweden, is now acting as an exemplar for our other facilities as they work to further prove their energy efficiency.
We are committed to reaching science-based Net Zero emissions by 2040. To achieve this, we have reset our science-based targets for carbon, increasing our ambition in line with 1.5°C global warming limits, which we will submit to the SBTi for their approval in FY23.
We have also set new energy targets which support our Net Zero emissions ambition.
Why is it important?
Given our global reach we want to play a role in protecting the natural environment and we actively work to minimise our environmental impacts. We also recognise that certain resources are finite and, as such, this presents us opportunities to explore solutions that support our business sustainably and protect the environment.
Our progress in 2022
We have reviewed and updated our waste and packaging-related targets. As we target zero waste to landfill, we amended our definitions for waste to account for local regulations which require hazardous waste to be landfilled. For this reason we have restated our waste to landfill baseline and subsequent years’ data.
In April 2022, we launched our zero waste to landfill project across our manufacturing sites and established a global knowledge hub on waste management to share best practice across sites and to encourage collaboration.
We have conducted recycling assessments on our packaging for products sold in the EU. To date, 86% of packaging formats that we have assessed in the EU are recyclable.
Why it is important?
We aspire to have a positive impact on the planet, and the farming communities in which our suppliers operate. We do this by continuing to support our suppliers to help their contracted farmers increase access to basic needs, diversify their income and farm sustainably. This supports our efforts to build a more responsible supply chain that is sustainable for the future.
Our progress in 2022
98%: Suppliers’ directly contracted farmers in prioritised countries with access to initiatives to increase agricultural productivity
94%: Suppliers’ directly contracted farmers in prioritised countries growing complementary crops
Why it is important?
Ensuring continuity in our supply chain has a direct impact on our business today, as well as the potential to impact business sustainability in the future.
It is important that the standards we expect in terms of quality, labour practices, human rights and environmental concern are adhered to by our suppliers.
Our progress in 2022
Why it is important?
Human rights abuses are unacceptable.
We take allegations relating to human rights extremely seriously and are committed to investigating any potential human rights issues within our supply chain and direct operations.
Our progress in 2022
Why it is important?
We want to continue to create a working environment where the wellbeing and safety of our employees are absolute priorities. As part of this commitment, we have health, safety & wellbeing as one of the core focus areas of our refreshed ESG strategy.
2022 performance highlights
Why it is important?
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is critical for our business and ESG ambitions, our culture change and for our people. We are developing a performance-driven and inclusive culture which supports the delivery of Imperial’s strategy.
Our progress in 2022
