Town Hall Highlights: Launch of Impact Report and Sustainability Milestones
Our town hall meeting on Tuesday, June 11, hosted by Romain, featured significant updates. We celebrated the success of our partnership with Paul Smith’s Foundation and launched our latest impact report.
Despite some challenges, especially in May, we are on track to meet our annual budget expectations, with strong performance in the US and UK markets. The forecast for the full year remains positive, focusing on maintaining our EBIT targets.
A key highlight was the discussion on sustainability initiatives, showcased in this year’s impact report. During a Q&A session, Ajita and Gareth explored the meaning of “impact” and the structure of the report: "what we said we would do, what we did, and what we will do." The report includes video case studies of our key achievements over the past year, such as decarbonisation, the regulatory roadmap, the Leadership Development Programme and bio-based acrylics with Liquitex. The report also externally launches our Colart Manifesto.
The discussion also emphasised the importance of accurate data collection and the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Ajita acknowledged challenges like energy-intensive manufacturing processes but noted progress across our sister companies. For example, Becker's has implemented a Product Sustainability Index, and Hogan has achieved a fully renewable energy site in Belgium. These efforts reflect our commitment to sustainability and our progress in various areas.
Based on the insights from the report, Ajita shared that we will continue to advance our sustainability initiatives with a focus on areas needing improvement. Our immediate next steps include scaling up renewable energy projects, with Kidderminster installing solar panels this year. Additionally, we will set more ambitious targets and continuously monitor our performance to ensure we stay on track.
Everyone is encouraged to read the impact report, share it with stakeholders, and become ambassadors for our sustainability initiatives. This report is a comprehensive guide to our achievements and future goals, reinforcing our dedication to financial stability and environmental responsibility. By engaging with the report and participating in our initiatives, every team member can contribute to our collective success.