NAIROBI, Kenya – British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya) has made significant strides in its sustainability efforts, achieving and surpassing several key targets ahead of schedule, as detailed in the company’s 2023 Sustainability Report.
The report highlights a remarkable achievement in gender mainstreaming, with women now representing 47% of senior leadership roles, surpassing the company’s 45% target set for 2025.
This progress reflects BAT Kenya’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across its workforce.
Additionally, women across various job grades saw an increase in base salaries, further solidifying the company’s dedication to gender equality.
BAT Kenya also recorded impressive results in its environmental initiatives.
The company reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54% in 2023, a milestone achieved seven years ahead of its 2030 target to cut these emissions by 50% from the 2020 baseline.
This success is largely attributed to an accelerated decarbonization strategy, which included a KSh145 million investment in solar energy between 2021 and 2022, bringing the company’s onsite generated electricity to 1,400 kWp.
Water conservation was another area where BAT Kenya outperformed its goals, achieving a 62.5% reduction in water withdrawal against a target of 35% by 2025 (vs 2017 baseline).
These efforts underscore the company’s commitment to excellence in environmental management as part of its broader strategy to combat climate change.
Beyond its internal operations, BAT Kenya’s sustainability initiatives extend across its value chain, particularly in enhancing the livelihoods of its contracted tobacco farmers.
The company rolled out a KSh10 million Rural Women Development Programme (RuwDep) in 2023, aiming to empower over 1,600 women farmers and the spouses of contracted male farmers in its tobacco supply chain. This follows a successful pilot program in 2022.
In a bid to bolster food security and improve farmer incomes, BAT Kenya increased the use of hybrid tobacco seeds, which are more drought-resistant and yield higher returns.
The company also introduced initiatives to encourage the cultivation of alternative subsistence crops, further supporting sustainable agriculture.
“We remain dedicated to transforming our business with a clear purpose of creating a Better Tomorrow by building a smokeless world. Our achievements in diversity, inclusion, climate change, and socio-economic development reflect our commitment to creating shared value for all our stakeholders,” Crispin Achola, BAT Kenya’s Managing Director, emphasized the company’s focus on sustainability.
The report highlights a remarkable achievement in gender mainstreaming, with women now representing 47% of senior leadership roles, surpassing the company’s 45% target set for 2025.
This progress reflects BAT Kenya’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across its workforce.
Additionally, women across various job grades saw an increase in base salaries, further solidifying the company’s dedication to gender equality.
BAT Kenya also recorded impressive results in its environmental initiatives.
The company reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54% in 2023, a milestone achieved seven years ahead of its 2030 target to cut these emissions by 50% from the 2020 baseline.
This success is largely attributed to an accelerated decarbonization strategy, which included a KSh145 million investment in solar energy between 2021 and 2022, bringing the company’s onsite generated electricity to 1,400 kWp.
Water conservation was another area where BAT Kenya outperformed its goals, achieving a 62.5% reduction in water withdrawal against a target of 35% by 2025 (vs 2017 baseline).
These efforts underscore the company’s commitment to excellence in environmental management as part of its broader strategy to combat climate change.
Beyond its internal operations, BAT Kenya’s sustainability initiatives extend across its value chain, particularly in enhancing the livelihoods of its contracted tobacco farmers.
The company rolled out a KSh10 million Rural Women Development Programme (RuwDep) in 2023, aiming to empower over 1,600 women farmers and the spouses of contracted male farmers in its tobacco supply chain. This follows a successful pilot program in 2022.
In a bid to bolster food security and improve farmer incomes, BAT Kenya increased the use of hybrid tobacco seeds, which are more drought-resistant and yield higher returns.
The company also introduced initiatives to encourage the cultivation of alternative subsistence crops, further supporting sustainable agriculture.
“We remain dedicated to transforming our business with a clear purpose of creating a Better Tomorrow by building a smokeless world. Our achievements in diversity, inclusion, climate change, and socio-economic development reflect our commitment to creating shared value for all our stakeholders,” Crispin Achola, BAT Kenya’s Managing Director, emphasized the company’s focus on sustainability.
