BAT Kenya has reported significant progress in its sustainability goals, notably exceeding its targets for gender representation. The recently released 2023 Sustainability Report highlights that the company achieved 47 percent representation of women in senior leadership roles, surpassing its 45 percent target set for 2025.
Additionally, women in various job grades have seen an increase in their base salaries.
In its efforts to address climate change and enhance environmental management, BAT Kenya recorded a 54 percent reduction in its scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2023, achieving this milestone seven years ahead of its goal to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030, compared to the 2020 baseline.
This reduction is part of an accelerated decarbonization strategy, which includes a Sh145 million investment in solar energy between 2021 and 2022, resulting in a current on-site electricity generation capacity of 1,400-KwP.
The company also reported a 62.5 percent decrease in water withdrawal, exceeding its 35 percent reduction target for 2025, based on 2017 levels. BAT Kenya’s sustainability initiatives extend throughout its value chain, focusing on improving the livelihoods of contracted tobacco farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.
The report also highlights the launch of a Sh10 million Rural Women Development Programme (RuwDep), following a successful pilot in 2022. RuwDep aims to empower over 1,600 women farmers within the company’s tobacco supply chain, as well as the spouses of contracted male farmers. In 2023, BAT increased its use of hybrid tobacco seeds, known for their drought resistance and higher yields, to enhance farmers’ incomes.
Additional initiatives were introduced to support food security through the cultivation of alternative subsistence crops.
Crispin Achola, BAT Kenya’s Managing Director, emphasized the importance of stakeholders understanding the company’s contributions 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.”
