Chemicals group ICI has begun a major review of its corporate social responsibility programmes and policies.
The UK-based multinational, which has operations in 50 countries and a
£5.6billion ($9.6bn) turnover, says the review involves a ‘detailed
evaluation of current and future priorities and stakeholder
expectations’.
It will cover all business functions and should result in a strategy for the next five years.
Frank Rose, group vice president of sustainability, told EP: ‘The
purpose is to set out priorities and commitments for the period 2006 to
2010. We will be reporting externally on the process and content in our
next sustainability report, which will be around the end of the first
quarter of 2006.’
The review is being led by the company’s cross-business sustainability
board, set up in 2004. It is working with the think-tank Forum for the
Future to test ideas on internal and external stakeholders and to
gather views.
ICI says the review will take account of the restructuring of its
business from a bulk chemicals producer on large industrial sites to a
speciality products and paints business that operates on many smaller
sites.
Most recent figures show ICI is ahead of its targets on reducing energy
use, greenhouse gas emissions, ozone generation, chemical spills and
water use, but behind on reducing releases of hazardous substances into
the air and acid rain forming gases. Last year it carried out more than
300 assessments of key suppliers as part of a new ‘product stewardship
system’.
ICI first set five-year objectives for improving its sustainability performance in 1990.
