- Jardine Matheson’s first Group-wide Sustainability Report sets out ESG data and aligns sustainability performance metrics across the Group.
- Affirms commitment to supporting a Just Transition and taking climate action.
- Reports on outcome of preliminary physical climate risk analysis across all major business units in line with TCFD recommendations.
- Range of new Group-wide ESG policies, including on climate change, published which enhance Group’s commitment to good sustainability governance.
Jardine Matheson has today published its first Group-wide Sustainability Report 2021. The Report highlights the Group’s integration of sustainability into its daily operations and future growth. It consolidates the Group’s efforts towards sustainability into an integrated report, providing an easily accessible platform for stakeholders to access relevant sustainability-related information. The Report takes account of the World Economic Forum (“WEF”) Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, the Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) Universal Standards, and Recommendations from the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”).
Ben Keswick, Executive Chairman of Jardine Matheson, said, “Sustainability is integral to the long-term business success of Jardine Matheson. We are therefore excited to be publishing our first Group-wide Sustainability Report, which highlights the great progress we have made in advancing our sustainability agenda. The Report reflects a shared sense of purpose across our Group. Many of our businesses are already actively pursuing leading sustainability agendas in their markets and sectors, but we know we can do more. Producing this report has drawn us closer together and helped us to ensure that, as a Group, we are maximising our impact throughout the communities we serve and are putting sustainability at the heart of how we run our businesses.”
Strengthening ESG disclosure
Since the adoption of the Group’s sustainability strategy in 2019, the Group’s businesses have increasingly been embedding sustainable development priorities into their operations and business planning, as well as exploring sustainability considerations as an integrated part of the Group’s risk assessment and investment decisions.
Over the past year, all major business units have aligned on a common platform of key ESG performance metrics. The Report sets out, for the first time, aggregated Group-wide data on these metrics, including GHG emissions, energy consumption, waste and health & safety. The Group aims to use this baseline data to drive future improvement in its sustainability performance and intends in due course to develop specific sustainability targets, further strengthening its approach towards sustainability.
Taking Climate Action
Leading climate action is one of the three core pillars of the Group’s sustainability strategy, alongside driving responsible consumption and shaping social inclusion. Jardines recognises the clear need for increased action on climate change, as well as leadership on climate-resilient development.
Central to the climate action strategy is the formulation of the Group’s decarbonisation strategy and actions to support a Just Transition to the ultimate goal of net-zero.
Jardines and its Group companies have therefore committed to: (i) scaling up investments in renewable energy and related innovations; (ii) diversifying into non-coal mineral mining; (iii) making no further investments in new thermal or metallurgical coal mines; and (iv) making no further investments in new thermal coal-fired power plants. More information can be found in the Group’s statement here.
Embedding Sustainability as a Business Partner of Choice
To further its commitment towards good sustainability governance, the Group has implemented several new ESG policies, which are available here. These include a Group Diversity & Inclusion Policy and a Climate Change Policy, which reflect the Group’s role as a responsible employer and business partner of choice.
The Group continues to review and develop its approach to sustainability. The Report documents the Group’s progress so far, and presents the approach for Jardines to deliver on its goals. Jardines remain confident in its long-term strategy to leverage its scale, partnerships and expertise to make a positive contribution to the communities where we operate.
The 2021 Jardine Matheson Sustainability Report is available here.
About Jardine Matheson
Jardine Matheson is a diversified Asian-based group with unsurpassed experience in the region, having been founded in China in 1832. Jardine Matheson operates principally in China and Southeast Asia through a large number of subsidiaries and affiliates. These companies are active in the fields of motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, transport services, restaurants, luxury hotels, financial services, heavy equipment, mining and agribusiness.