Leading consumer goods company, British American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria, has
restated its commitment to addressing climate change and environmental
management issues, while delivering a positive social impact and ensuring robust
corporate governance across its operations. This was contained in a statement
issued by the multinational organisation on the occasion of this year’s World
Environment Day in Lagos, during which the company also highlighted some of its
achievements and plans in the areas of waste and water management, reduction in
Co2 emissions and transition to renewable energy sources in its operations.
Specifically, the company used the occasion to announce that it is implementing a 1
MW Solar Panel renewable energy solution (without backup battery storage) that
would complement the existing gas engine-powered supply at its Ibadan factory.
This project, which will consist of the installation of 1,900 polar panels, will generate a
cumulative energy of 1,400,000 KWh annually, representing about 6% of the factory’s
annual power requirement which would be injected directly into the company’s energy
mix. To achieve this, the company is making a significant investment of about £1m over
the next two years on the project, which will reduce its carbon emissions (by the
the equivalent of 992 tons annually) taking the company closer to its target of 100%
renewable energy source and carbon neutrality by 2030.
Speaking on this investment, Area Director, BAT West and Central Africa, Yarub Al-
Bahrani said:
“BAT Nigeria’s Sustainability Agenda is integral to our Evolved Group Strategy and
reflects our commitment to the principal focus area of reducing the health impact of
our business. This is underpinned by excellence across our other Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG) priorities. We are committed to reducing our climate
impact, taking care of biodiversity and rethinking our means of consumption.
“The investment we are making in renewable solar energy in Nigeria aligns with our
commitment captured aptly in our purpose to build A Better Tomorrow™ and is in
line with our ESG target of being Carbon Neutral in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.”
Already, the company has recorded an impressive 23.7% reduction in scope 1 and 2
emissions, when compared with the 2017 baseline, among a number of other
achievements, including 100% recycling of waste generated at her Ibadan factory
with zero-waste evacuated to landfill, 26.2% reduction in water drawn and 4% water
recycled as well as the ISO140012015 environmental certification of the Ibadan
factory, among others.
Commenting on the company’s achievements and the theme of this year’s World
Environment Day, External Affairs Director, BAT West and Central Africa, Odiri
Erewa-Meggison said:
“This year, the world celebrates 50 years of the initial Stockholm Conference with the
the theme ‘Only One Earth’. It is once again an opportunity to reiterate the need for
mankind to live sustainably in harmony with nature and for BAT Nigeria, we are
proud of the achievements we have made so far and are committed to continuously
push for new ways to reduce our resource use, preserve the natural environment,
improve the lives of farmers and communities, and uphold robust corporate
governance standards.
In 2019, we began partnering with local recyclers to implement the recycling of
waste material such as paper, plastics and cigarette waste. Some of the end
products which are on display at the sustainability show corner in our Ibadan factory
shows that beyond repurposing waste material, the initiative is also creating new
capacities among implementation partners and employees in the local
community.”
Sustainability has been central to BAT’s business and ethos for decades. In 2021, the
the company was recognised as a sustainability leader for the 20th consecutive year in
the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, being the only tobacco company to be
included in the prestigious DJSI World Index representing the top 10% of ESG
performers.
The business is accelerating progress across its ESG priorities to create a sustainable
Enterprise of the Future and in 2021, signed up for the UN-backed Race to Zero
The campaign aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.