Protecting our planet and supporting communities

Since the launch of our energy, utilities and waste programme in 2019, 66 efficiency projects have been fully implemented, with a further 11 awaiting approval and 12 at feasibility stage. In 2022 we reduced our overall energy intensity ratio by 4.7% (GWh/$m revenue) through implementation of our energy, water and waste efficiency programme.

In 2022, we achieved a 32% reduction of our combined Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions against our 2021 baseline, achieved through improved energy efficiency and sourcing of renewable electricity. We anticipate validation of aligned SBTs in 2023 (Scope 1 and 2 and 3), using a 2021 performance baseline.

Our focus on sustainable product design – and use of the Green Design Guidelines – helps us consider our impact along the full lifecycle of a product and meet our Scope 3 emissions reduction target. We are intensifying our focus on initiatives which will drive a reduction in waste generated by our product, packaging and non-manufacturing activities.

We aim to make a socio-economic contribution to society through direct economic value generated, operating costs, employee wages and benefits, payments to providers of capital, dividends, taxes, and community investment. We fully support and embrace greater transparency with tax authorities and the initiatives being introduced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

We recognise our responsibility to the communities in which we operate and strive to increase our positive contribution to society in everything we do. Employees use our volunteering policy, which guarantees a minimum of two days annually to engage with their local communities. At a group level, we partner with charities for large scale responses around disaster relief, improving health equity, and education. In 2022, we contributed over $2 million in cash and products to partners working on these topics.

We believe education – particularly for people with chronic conditions and the healthcare professionals who care for them – is an important component of improving lives. We have a cross-functional committee that manages our support of educational grants and medical research. Our community investment programme has ‘education’ as one of its three areas of focus.