Community Investments

 
 
 

We recognise the role of business as a corporate citizen, and Group Companies are encouraged to support local Community Investments and charitable projects.

What we Believe

‘Community Investments’ are voluntary activities, beyond our commercial and core business activities and our legal obligations, that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the countries and communities in which we operate.

These investments address a wide range of issues and causes in the communities where we operate, often involving charities, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) and ‘civil society’, and include expenditure on community projects or charitable contributions, in-kind donations and Employee volunteering.

Group Companies should not make any community investment without first applying the compliance requirements detailed in the Group Community Investment Framework.

Quick Links
  • Supporting Local Communities
  • Fully Recording What we Give
  • Government Officials, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Equivalent Public Bodies
  • Verifying Reputation and Status
 

Supporting Local Communities

As an international business, BAT plays an important role in many countries, and Group Companies have built close ties with the communities in which they operate. We have a long-standing approach to supporting and giving back to these communities through our Community Investments.

The Group Community Investment Framework sets out how Group Companies must develop, deliver and monitor Community Investments, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Fully Recording What we Give

Any Community Investments by a Group Company must be fully recorded in the company’s books and, if required, placed on public record either by the company or the recipient.

Group Companies should ensure that Community Investments they report for ESG reporting purposes are consistent with those they report through Finance, for financial and statutory reporting purposes.

 

Government Officials, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Equivalent Public Bodies

Additional due diligence and risk mitigation steps are required if contributions are to be made to a government organisation, SOE or equivalent public body (including in response to a request from government to provide funding to assist disaster relief efforts), applying the due diligence and governance approach detailed in the Group Community Investment Framework, and supporting Annexure.

Group Companies must take care to ensure that such government organisation, SOE or equivalent body is genuine, and that the Community Investments contribution benefits the general public and not Public Officials and their families.

We must not contribute to a Public Official’s personal or affiliated charity.

Community Investments must never be used as an indirect means to make political contributions, to seek political influence, to induce or reward Improper Conduct, or in lieu of payment through BAT’s usual payments processes for services provided to BAT.

 

Verifying Reputation and Status

Group Companies should not make any community investment without first applying the due diligence and governance approach detailed in the Group Community Investment Framework, and the Due Diligence and Governance Annex, in order to verify the recipient’s reputation and status.

Before making any contribution, Group Companies are expected to satisfy themselves that the recipient is acting in good faith and with sustainability objectives, such that the contribution will not be used for any improper purposes.

In countries where charitable organisations and/or NGOs are required to register, Group Companies should verify their registered status before making a contribution.

 

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