“We will continue to develop our sustainability thinking and practice – both because we believe it is right in itself and because we believe it is right for our business. To the extent that this involves us in a wider debate, we will be happy to participate.”
2006 was the first year of Sustainability Challenge 2010, the fourth of our five year programmes designed to improve our sustainability performance. We have been reporting on sustainability issues and performance since 1991 and over the intervening years we have made substantial progress. A combination of efficiency improvement and changes in our business portfolio has resulted in reduction of energy consumption by 90%, greenhouse gas emissions by 96% and hazardous waste to land by 97%.
Also over this period, we have continued to broaden our definition of sustainability in line with our changing business portfolio and the growing awareness of, and interest in, sustainability issues. In 2006 the ICI Board approved ‘The ICI Way’, which integrates the essential components of a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable business. We also continue to embrace the principles of the UN Global Compact to promote responsible corporate citizenship.
Today, sustainability is integral to how we run our business – the way we treat our people, the way we interact with the environment through the development, manufacture, distribution and use of our products, and the way we engage with all of our stakeholders – employees, customers, investors, suppliers and the wider communities in which we operate.
2006 saw further progress across a broad range of areas. However, it is with great regret that we have to report that two independent contractors died while working on our behalf. These were the first fatalities involving operations, rather than motor vehicle incidents, since 2000.
Sustainability Challenge 2010 presents us with a number of demanding objectives to be met in the next few years. We remain convinced that the principles of sustainability are not just right in themselves but underpin an efficient and competitive way to do business.
We welcome feedback. It and can be addressed to the Group Vice President, Sustainability. The printed review is intended as a summary only. Full details of our sustainability performance in 2006 can be found here.
