Message from the chairman

While this global trend towards greater compliance should be welcomed, what is important is not merely what the law requires – but what is right from a moral and ethical perspective.

This is the fundamental guiding principle of Imperial’s approach to social, ethics and sustainability. The Imperial I-Pledge campaign and our work in scholar patrols at local schools are just two examples of our commitment to go beyond compliance and contribute to the greater good of the country.

At the same time we recognise that sustainability needs to be commercially viable. The company’s decentralised, federal management approach encourages divisions to look at sustainability through an entrepreneurial lens. Throughout the group, businesses have embraced the opportunity to save on costs by implementing sustainable business practices.

Many of the projects covered in the report that follows have been pioneering. In sustainability – as in business – it is part of Imperial’s culture to lead the way with new and innovative solutions to society’s challenges. In the environmental arena, global firsts include the Weltevreden Park Kia dealership which is the only solar-powered Kia dealership in the world and the most environmentally friendly motor vehicle dealership in South Africa.

Among local communities the Imperial and Ukhamba Community Development Trust continues to carry out pioneering work in the field of education. It has made a tangible difference to the education and lives of more than 10 000 children from under-resourced schools, thanks to the close three-way partnership it has forged with the Department of Education, the schools themselves and the broader community.

The Trust’s work stands as yet another example of how “doing the right thing” dovetails with commercial considerations – the children we educate today will form the skills pool from which the business will need to draw its future talent.

The ongoing development of our own people is informed by a similar theme. We believe we have an obligation to upgrade the skills of people who work for us and recognise that doing so has a direct impact on the group’s competitiveness and success. We also take cognisance of the skills shortage that exists in many of the industries in which we operate – in response we train more people in specialist skills than we require for our own needs. This delivers an immediate benefit to individual trainees and contributes directly to the technical skills pool in South Africa, while benefiting our own businesses in the long term.

I am pleased to see that Imperial’s sustainability ethos has been further integrated into the company during the year. In this year’s integrated annual report, you will read about Imperial’s expansion activities into Africa, Europe and the rest of the world. As the group looks to grow its global footprint, we apply the same stringent social, ethical and environmental standards in all jurisdictions in which it operates – regardless of the requirements of domestic law.

Valli Moosa
Chairman: social, ethics and sustainability committee
30 September 2013