RCS - Portmeirion Group - New Sustainability Strategy and Roadmap

PortmeirionAnnouncement

16/05/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 4869Z  Portmeirion Group PLC  16 May 2023

16 May 2023

PORTMEIRION GROUP PLC

(the "Group")

 

NEW SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AND ROADMAP

'Crafting a Better Future' strategy outlines Group's commitment to becoming a
more sustainable business

 

Portmeirion Group PLC, the owner, designer, manufacturer and omni-channel
retailer of leading homeware brands in global markets, is pleased to launch
its new sustainability strategy - 'Crafting a Better Future'. The new strategy
outlines the Group's commitment to reduce its impact on climate change and
develop as a positive force for the environment, the people that work across
its operations and local communities.

Aligned to the Group's international commercial plans, the Crafting a Better
Future strategy will be underpinned by a delivery roadmap, with a clear and
transparent set of commitments and goals. The Group is now working to embed
these into its operations and decision-making processes to ensure
sustainability sits at the core of the business.

Crafting a Better Future focuses on the following strategic commitments:

1.    COMMIT 2040 - Become a positive force for change, reducing our
emissions and environmental impact by addressing what we can fix now, and
supporting transformation within our industry:

·    Achieve Net Zero by 2040 across our Scope 1 and 2 emissions, defining
a pathway that focuses on maximising the proportion of our energy use from
renewable sources;

·    Work with our supply chain manufacturing partners to ensure they
support our Commit 2040 plan;

·    Develop the role of Global Energy Teams to drive energy reduction
within our operations  through innovation and 'green thinking' throughout our
Group;

·    Achieve '0% to landfill' across entire UK business, building on
target already achieved in our Stoke-on-Trent ceramic manufacturing site;

·    Eliminate single use plastics throughout our operations;

·    Understand our global nature footprint and develop a Group-wide
biodiversity plan; and

·    Enhance our materiality assessment to understand more about our Scope
3 emissions.

 

2.    NURTURING THE BEST - Develop as an inclusive, ambitious and
inspirational global employer of choice, accessing the best talent and
enabling all our people to thrive:

·    Ensure equity, diversity, inclusion and opportunities for all
colleagues across our global business, and equip all our managers with the
development tools to promote this;

·    Further improve supply chain transparency and support our suppliers
in applying Portmeirion Group people principles across our value chain
including opportunities for training and Health, Safety and Environment
practices;

·    Expand our NHS UK Wellbeing Charter accreditation throughout our UK
businesses and increase our number of Mental Health First Aiders across the
Group;

·    Retain our UK Investors in People Platinum accreditation by
delivering excellent employee support programmes, and continuing to place
colleague wellbeing and development at our core; and

·    Understand the aspirations of our colleagues and work on talent
fulfilment plans.

 

3.    OUR COMMUNITY FAMILY - Build on our heritage by supporting our local
communities to nurture talent, collaborating with others to create positive
futures:

·    Develop new community partnerships to address skills development and
social mobility;

·    Introduce a Global 'Giving Back' programme, providing colleagues with
paid leave to engage in local volunteering activities;

·    Support local families with employability skills development,
including CV writing, interview techniques and provision of paid work
experience programmes; and

·    Support community fundraising within our local areas.

 

The strategy is underpinned by a clear governance structure, including a new
Sustainable Business Board Committee, chaired by Mike Raybould, Chief
Executive, which will drive accountability for all sustainability commitments
that have been set by the Group.  Delivery of the Crafting a Better Future
sustainability plan is the collective responsibility of the Board.

Mike Raybould, Chief Executive, commented:

"Our Group continues to develop into a truly international business, with
employees, offices, customers and suppliers all over the world.  We are proud
that our portfolio of homewares brands is sold in over 80 countries, and that
our two, long-established UK factories supply around 40% of our global
sales.

This exciting global growth brings with it responsibility. As a purpose-driven
business, we are clear that we must continue to play our part in tackling
global pressures such as climate change and support our extended community
families.  We must also continue to meet the expectations of our investors,
stakeholders and customers as they work to deliver their own commitments.

We have already made good progress in reducing our carbon emissions per tonne
of saleable products. Our Stoke-on-Trent factory recycles all clay and glaze,
with zero to landfill status, and our Lake District home fragrance factory
sources more than 50% of its energy from local wind turbines.

The launch of our Crafting a Better Future strategy represents the next level
of ambition for our Group - to ensure that we continue to reduce our impact on
the environment and support our colleagues and communities, whilst still
pursuing our ambition to grow our business around the world."

 

Full details of the Group's Crafting a Better Future sustainability strategy
and roadmap are available at https://www.portmeiriongroup.com/sustainability
(https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/6mB3C31Mqs329DSgD-rH?domain=portmeiriongroup.com)
.

 

ENDS

 

ENQUIRIES:

 

 Portmeirion Group PLC:
 Mike Raybould, Chief Executive          +44 (0) 1782 743 443   mraybould@portmeiriongroup.com
 David Sproston, Group Finance           +44 (0) 1782 743 443   dsproston@portmeiriongroup.com

Director

 Hudson Sandler:
 Dan de Belder                           +44 (0) 207 796 4133   portmeirion@hudsonsandler.com
 Nick Moore

 Emily Brooker

 Shore Capital:                          +44 (0) 207 408 4090

 (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker):
 Patrick Castle                          Corporate Advisory
 Lucy Bowden                             Corporate Broking

 Malachy McEntyre

 

 Singer Capital Markets

 (Joint Broker):         +44 (0) 207 496 3000
 Peter Steel             Investment Banking
 Asha Chotai

 

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Portmeirion Group PLC is a leading, omni-channel British ceramics manufacturer
and retailer of leading homeware brands.

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, the Group owns six unrivalled
heritage and contemporary brands, with 750+ years of collective heritage;
Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Worcester, Pimpernel, Wax Lyrical and Nambé.

The Group serves markets across the world, with global demand driven by
diversified international markets including the key geographies of the US, UK
and South Korea.

Portmeirion Group has a proven capital-light, well developed and self-funded
growth strategy focused on building a wider customer base and growing the
sales footprint of its brands, through:

·    Building and growing international sales markets

·    Developing online sales channels in core markets

·    Designing and launching new product to widen appeal and take market
share

·    Leveraging brands and extensive product ranges

 

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