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We strike gold again in sustainability

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16 February 2021

STORIES AND FEATURES

We strike gold again in sustainability

16 FEBRUARY 2021

At BAT, ESG is front and centre in all that we do as we build A Better Tomorrow™ for all our stakeholders – so we are proud to have received two more prestigious awards for our achievements.

The awards come from sustainability investment specialists S&P Global and global non-profit organisation, CDP, which runs environmental disclosure systems.

S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook


We have been awarded the highest “Gold Class” distinction in the 2021 edition of S&P’s Sustainability Yearbook . This sees BAT as the only tobacco company awarded this status.

The yearbook is the world’s most comprehensive publication on corporate sustainability and inclusion is determined by scores in the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

In the most recent 2020 DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment, BAT maintained our industry leadership position with an overall score of 85%, making us the only tobacco company to feature in the prestigious DJSI World index.

We achieved industry-leading scores in 13 of the 23 categories assessed, with a top score of 100% in seven categories.

Manjit Jus, Global Head of ESG Research, S&P Global: “We congratulate BAT plc on its Gold Award in The Sustainability Yearbook 2021, which showcases the best performing companies among industry peers and in terms of financially material ESG metrics. With over 7,000 companies assessed, an inclusion in the yearbook is a true statement of corporate sustainability excellence.”          

CDP


We have also been named as a Supplier Engagement Leader by CDP . 

This recognises BAT as a global leader for engaging with suppliers on climate change and for our actions and strategies to reduce emissions and manage climate risks in our supply chain.

Companies assessed are given a Supplier Engagement Rating based on their approach to carbon management, targets and emissions and the extent to which they engage suppliers on climate change issues.  BAT is among the top 7% of companies who disclosed their information in the full CDP climate questionnaire.

Jennie Galbraith, Group Head of ESG at BAT, says: “ESG is front and centre of everything we do as we build A Better Tomorrow. The recognition we have received to date is thanks to the continued efforts of so many employees and operations across the Group who meet – and go beyond - the standards expected of a sustainable international business.”

Other ESG recognition and activity


We are proud that our ESG efforts are being recognised through our improved scores in leading investor indices, and over 200 awards received.

In December 2020 we were awarded  an ‘A’ score for climate change action and were recognised as an ‘A List Company’ by CDP. Also in December we became the first tobacco company to publish a human rights report, aligned to the UN Guiding Principles.

In November 2020 we were again named as a Financial Times Diversity Leader for second consecutive year, recognising BAT as a company that has “achieved a diverse and inclusive workplace.”