Environment
Swedish Match believes that the work on environmental issues contributes to the long-term and sustainable development of business operations. We continuously strive to make improvements in areas with environmental impact. Thus, we create sustainable conditions for our businesses, employees and other stakeholders. The Company has participated in a global environmental initiative, the Carbon Disclosure Project, where Swedish Match received acknowledgements for its environmental efforts.
Environmental Policy
The importance of environmental issues is increasing in pace with more stringent requirements and increased awareness on the part of consumers, customers, suppliers and authorities. Legislation and other standards in the environmental area are constantly being tightened.
The Swedish Match Group has adopted an environmental policy encircling all aspects of its operations, which is based on the principles of the environmental standard ISO 14001. The policy is available to external as well as internal stakeholders on the Group’s website and on the Group’s intranet. However, the diversity of Swedish Match activities requires that subordinated environmental policies are formulated for each division.
Review of the policy implementation takes place through an internal process, where the responsible people confirm reception and implementation of the policy.
In addition corporate representatives have the obligation to analyse and review the environmental work regularly through internal as well as external audits. The results of the audits are reported to the divisional management teams.
Swedish Match Environmental Policy
- We are committed to continual environmental improvement and prevention of pollution in all our activities, products and services.
- We will operate an environmental management system, applicable on corporate, divisional and factory levels, which will safeguard that said commitment is continuously maintained.
- We are likewise committed to comply with all relevant environmental legislation, regulation and other requirements in the countries where we are operating.
- We will continuously search environmental objectives identified through our environmental management system.
- We will undertake appropriate improvements and remedial actions based on financial and environmental criteria.
- We are committed to inform and document changes of major environmental impact as a result of our activities, products and services.
Environmental organization
The responsibility for implementing the Group Environmental Policy and running the improvement programs lie with the divisional management teams. The operational work is carried out by appointed environmental representatives. Each major business unit has an environmental manager.
A Group Council, with representatives from all divisions, headed by the Senior Vice President Group Human Resources, is responsible for environmental issues and for reporting environmental results. The Council is to safeguard the conformity of Swedish Match’s stated policy and the Environmental Management System throughout the organization. This is achieved by regular meetings and by a structured information exchange in between these meetings. The Council members from the divisions represent the link to Corporate Headquarters.