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 2022 ESG review has 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 recognise that consumer health is the most important ESG priority for many of our stakeholders and that we need to build a successful next generation product (NGP) business. Our commercial strategy, launched in 2021, announced our intention to challenge through NGP market trials. This has been a key pillar of our new business strategy, and our ESG strategy aims to complement this by bringing a focus to how we address consumer health by offering adult smokers a range of products that have the potential of harm reduction at population level.
A consumer-led harm reduction strategy
We start with the consumer, focusing on consumer insight and research to ensure we build a portfolio that suits them.
We substantiate the harm reduction potential of our NGP through our multi-stage, multi-year testing and research programme. This scientific assessment framework is applied for each NGP type compared to cigarettes to assess the relative risk. You can explore in more detail on our science website.
Based on our scientific research and market research, we will link the findings into our NGP innovation process in order to innovate for stronger consumer satisfaction and to drive harm reduction by enabling smokers to choose potentially less harmful products.
Why is it important?
We acknowledge our global reach and influence in addressing concerns over climate change. Disruption in climate and energy has the potential to impact our business across the value chain, from crop production to manufacturing and distribution. We monitor this risk and put in place intervention or mitigation measures where necessary.
Strong track record of performance
Over the last 10 years (2012-2021) we have:
2021 Performance against our 2017 baseline year
Why is it important?
Given our global reach and influence, we want to play a role in protecting the natural environment and actively work to minimise our environmental impacts. We also recognise that certain resources are finite and, as such, this presents us with opportunities to explore sustainable solutions that support our business sustainability and protect the environment. We are committed to compliance with environmental legislation. Reducing our environmental impact also supports efficiency and cost optimisation.
Strong track reord of performance
Over the last 10 years (2012-2021) we have:
2021 Performance against our 2017 baseline year
Why it is important?
Everything on the farm is interconnected.
By continuing to support our suppliers to help their farmers increase access to basic needs, diversify their income and farm sustainably, it is not only having a positive impact on the planet, and for farming communities, but helps make our supply chain more robust and sustainable into the future.
2021 performance highlights
Why it is important?
Ensuring continuity of supply has a direct impact on our business today as well as the potential to impact business sustainability in the future.
It is important for us to know that the standards we expect in terms of quality, labour practices and environmental concern are being adhered to by our suppliers
2021 performance highlights
Why it is important?
As an international business we recognise the importance, of promoting respect for human rights. Respecting human rights is of paramount importance in relation to our own employees, external reputation and supply chain sustainability..
2021 performance highlights
Why it is important?
The health, safety and wellbeing of our people continues to be of utmost importance to us. We want to create a working environment where safety is an absolute priority, and strongly believe that no one should be injured in the course of their work. We can only achieve this vision if each and every one of us takes personal responsibility and therefore our health and safety identity is: ‘I own safety’.
2021 performance highlights
Why it is important?
We have laid the foundations for a performance driven and inclusive culture which supports the delivery of Imperial’s new strategy. Underpinning our cultural shift is a set of five clear behaviours – how we need to think and act in order to succeed. To ‘be authentic and inclusive to all’ is one of our core behaviours. Everyone is welcome. The more diverse we are, the stronger we are.
2021 performance highlights
