CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT 2009
Our CR vision and strategy
Progressive brands
Responsible business
Dedicated people
Our corporate responsibility strategy
It is now three years since we first fully articulated our sustainability commitments as a public company. We began by using an external framework to help us think about our responsibilities in terms of the environment, marketplace, supply chain, workplace and community. It was a useful starting point.
In the past 12 months we have reviewed this approach and the result is a new vision focussed on three key areas: progressive brands, responsible business, and dedicated people. With progressive brands, we will continue to build on the success of our portfolio by responding to consumer expectations for products that deliver quality, taste and enjoyment, while at the same time integrating relevant social and environmental considerations. Being a responsible business means responding to our stakeholders' expectations for delivering both shareholder value and remaining true to our values. Finally, we wouldn’t be the thriving business we are without dedicated people working with us. We encourage our employees to support our drive to be a better business and also acknowledge the role we have to play in protecting and improving their overall wellbeing.
This new focus is underpinned by four strategic goals that reflect the most pressing sustainability issues facing our business.
The chart on our 2007/08 goals page sets out the progress we have made against the goals we set last year. In some areas we have made great strides; in others, we acknowledge we still have work to do. But our overall direction is the right one.
John Gibney
Finance Director and CR Programme Sponsor