Material Issues.

Sustainability 2017 was defined following an assessment of the risks, major impacts and future commercial opportunities open to the business. The high level long term targets encompassed within it, together with the group’s other related targets, address the issues which could potentially have a material effect on the group’s future performance.

Read more about how the Sustainability 2017 Vision was developed.

Monitoring progress against the group’s targets is used as a means of managing these material issues. The group’s key material issues are:

More than double underlying
earnings per share by 2017

Deliver Shareholder Value

Profitability and sustainability are inextricably linked and our business will only survive if it can continue to deliver superior value to its shareholders. All other material issues identified by the group and its performance against the related targets can all have an impact on profitability. Underlying earnings per share is the principal measure used by the board to assess the overall profitability of the group.

Achieve carbon neutrality
by 2017

Climate Change

Climate change presents many opportunities for Johnson Matthey. Our products and technologies have a role to play in mitigating its effects and we must ensure we are well positioned to maximise our benefit. The group must also manage the potential negative impacts arising from an increasingly carbon constrained world.

Halve the key resources
we consume per unit of
output by 2017

Availability of Resources

Continued economic development will place an ever increasing strain on the world’s resources. Over time, the raw materials we use today may become less available and more costly. Our challenges are to carefully select those with the lowest sustainability footprint, use them as efficiently as possible and maximise the amounts we recycle.

Achieve zero waste
to landfill by 2017

Waste

As populations and industry continue to grow, so will the amount of waste we collectively generate. It places a burden on the planet, can have a negative impact on habitats and potentially spoil areas of natural beauty that we currently enjoy. It is in our interest to manage the waste we generate as a business. Addressing this issue delivers financial savings, more efficient processes and a better environment for us all.

Achieve a zero ‘greater
than three day’
accidents safety target

Safety

We have a responsibility to do our utmost to ensure that the safety of our employees, or of anyone else, is not compromised as a result of our activities. Shortcomings in any area of safety can have devastating effects on people’s lives. Our failure to maintain the required high standards could damage the group’s reputation, result in financial penalties and cause disruption to the business. We have rigorous systems in place to manage our performance and our target is zero ‘greater than three day’ accidents. The safety of our processes is also critical to operating as a safe and sustainable manufacturer and we are increasingly applying rigorous standards to all manufacturing processes that have a risk of serious accidents.

Implement ISO 14001 at all
major manufacturing sites
by 2010

Environmental Protection

Johnson Matthey has an important role to play in protecting the environment for the benefit of others. Many of our products and technologies have an environmentally beneficial effect and generate a significant proportion of the group’s profit. Operating our processes with care and respect for the environment is a focus. Failure to do so can have damaging effects on the planet and society and negatively impact our reputation and our business.

≥ 30% reduction in
occupational illness
cases by 2013/14

Health Management

The health and wellbeing of our employees are a priority for Johnson Matthey and we recognise that building a sustainable workforce is a key contributor to our long term success. We are committed to minimising workplace related negative health hazards and to promoting a culture of sustainable health among our employees.

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Q and As.

Q1. What does sustainability mean to you?

To me, sustainability is about the establishment and achievement of...

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