BAT Kenya has reported steady progress in the company's sustainability priorities, having among others, surpassed set targets in gender mainstream.
According to British American Tobacco Kenya's recently published 2023 Sustainability Report, the Company reported 47 per cent representation of women in senior leadership roles, against a 45 per cent target by 2025.
In the same vein, women across various job grades registered an increase in base salaries.
As part of efforts to combat climate change and drive excellence in environmental management, BAT Kenya saw a 54 per cent reduction in its scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2023.
This was seen as a milestone as it is seven years ahead of its 2030 target to reduce these emissions by 50 per cent (Vs 2020 baseline).
This is on the back of an accelerated decarbonisation strategy, including a Sh145 million investment in solar energy between 2021 and 2022, bringing current onsite generated electricity to 1,400-KwP.
The Company also achieved a 62.5 per cent reduction in water withdrawn, surpassing its target of a 35 per cent reduction by 2025 (vs 2017 baseline).
BAT Kenya's sustainability efforts are also spread across its value chain, with a key focus on enhancing the livelihoods of its contracted tobacco farmers and driving sustainable agriculture.
The report highlights the rollout of a Sh10 million Rural Women Development Programme (RuwDep) following a successful pilot in 2022.
RuwDep aims to empower over 1,600 women farmers in the Company's tobacco supply chain, and the spouses of the Company's contracted male farmers.
With an aim to improve the incomes of their contracted farmers, in 2023, BAT increased the use of hybrid tobacco seeds, which have a higher level of drought resistance and facilitate increased yields for farmers.
Other initiatives were also rolled out to drive food security through the growing of alternative subsistence crops.
Speaking, BAT Kenya Managing Director Crispin Achola emphasised the importance of their stakeholders having a view of the Company's contribution to sustainability.
"We remain focused on the transformation of our business, underpinned by our purpose to create A Better Tomorrow by Building a Smokeless World," he said.
Achola said the achievement of multiple sustainability targets ahead of set timelines is a testament to their commitment to creating shared value for their stakeholders.
"I am especially proud of our performance in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity, socio-economic development and climate change," he said.
"Looking ahead, we will continue to accelerate BAT Kenya’s sustainability performance, in collaboration with all stakeholders."
