Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility
The Company endeavours to be honest and fair in its relationships with customers and suppliers, and to be a good corporate citizen respecting the laws of the countries in which it operates. The Company is accountable to its shareholders but also endeavours to consider the interests of all of its stakeholders, including its employees, customers and suppliers, as well as the local communities and environments in which the Company operates. In this context the Company takes regular account of the significance of social, environmental and ethical matters to its operations as part of its regular risk assessment procedures, with such matters regularly considered by the executive Directors.
The Board is committed to monitoring the Company’s corporate social responsibility policies in key areas. Management monitors the Company’s day-to-day activities in order to assess risks in these areas and identify actions that may be taken to address those risks. At present, the Board does not consider it appropriate to link the management of these risks to remuneration incentives, given the difficulties in measuring the changes to those risks objectively. Given the Company’s relatively low social and environmental impact, the Company believes that there are few risks to its short and long-term value proposition arising from these matters, although it considers the potential to deliver greater value by responding to these issues appropriately. The Board believes the Company has adequate information to assess these matters, and effective systems for managing any risks. The Company’s website includes a section dedicated to corporate ethical, employment and environmental issues.
Whilst the Board considers that material risks arising from social, ethical, employment and environmental issues are limited, given the nature of the Company’s business, policies have been adopted in key areas to ensure that such risks are limited. The Company’s policy is to behave in an environmentally responsible manner consistent with local environmental regulations and standards. These include ensuring that any waste is dealt with in accordance with all local waste disposal regulations, improving recycling and upgrading the energy and lighting systems in the Company’s facilities to more low energy equivalents.
Employment Policies
BATM employs approximately 1,058 people and in order to continue to grow as a business, the Company needs to continue to recruit and retain only the best talent. Therefore, it is the Company’s policy to pursue practices that are sensitive to the needs of its people. The Company strives for equal opportunities for all of its employees, including disabled employees, and does not tolerate harassment of, or discrimination against, its staff.
The Company’s priorities are:
• Providing a safe workplace with equality of opportunity and diversity through our employment policies.
• Encouraging our people to reach their full potential through career development and promotion from within where possible.
• Communicating openly and transparently within the bounds of commercial confidentiality, whilst listening to our people and taking into account their feedback.
• Recognising and rewarding our people for their contribution and encouraging share ownership at all levels.
The Company respects the rule of law within all jurisdictions in which it operates and supports appropriate internationally accepted standards including those on human rights. The Company ensures that its suppliers undertake to comply with all international standards and laws relating to human rights and non-abuse of minors. The Company’s equal opportunities policies prohibit discrimination on grounds such as race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability. This policy includes, where practicable, the continued employment of those who may become disabled during their employment. The Company’s policies strive to ensure that all decisions about the appointment, treatment and promotion of employees are based entirely on merit, and continued development of the Company is made with the maximum involvement and input from employees practicable.
All employees of the Company are expected to behave ethically when working for the Company and this is reflected in the rules and policies in effect in the Company. The Company has an ethics policy which has been communicated to all of its employees which incorporate specific anti-bribery and corruption policies and emphasises an ethical business standard for carrying on business dealings with its customers and suppliers.
Employees with Disabilities
The Company’s policy is to give full and fair consideration to suitable applications from people with disabilities for employment. If existing employees become disabled they will continue to be employed, wherever practicable, in the same job or, if this is not practicable, every effort will be made to find suitable alternative employment and to provide appropriate training.
Environmental Policies and adherence to EU Environmental Directives
The Directors recognise the importance of the Group adhering to clear environmental objectives.
Its environmental policy is to:
• Meet the statutory requirements placed on it;
• Adopt good environmental practice in respect of premises, product development and manufacturing, and consumption of resources;
• Aim to recycle as much of its waste products as it is economically practicable to do.
The Company reduced its electricity consumption and has programs to reduce its fuel consumption.
In addition the Company designs certain product lines that are designed to reduce energy consumption and waste production. During 2012 the Company launched a new product, in the Bio-Medical Division, to treat medical waste and convert it into normal waste. The successful launch of this product into dialysis centres, laboratories and hospitals and the relevant environmental certifications will position the Company as a leader in this field. The Eco-Med unit launched a unique solution, based on its patented Integrated Shredder and Steriliser (“ISS”) technology, for agri-business, which treats waste from poultry and larger animals such as cattle, pigs and cows, and at pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. This solution has been tested with the relevant regulatory authorities to confirm its uniqueness and efficiency.
The Company has implemented the recommendations of ROHS (The Restriction of Hazardous Substances) in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHS) Directive (2002/95/EC), and as of 2008 on wards, all of its products are fully ROHS certified.
The Company is ISO 14000 certified and the Group’s facilities are also ISO 9001:2008 certified for their quality management
systems and controls, thus ensuring that the Company’s Networking and Cyber and Bio-Medical products comply with relevant quality and safety standards.
Employees with Disabilities
The Company’s policy is to give full and fair consideration to suitable applications from people with disabilities for employment. If existing employees become disabled they will continue to be employed, wherever practicable, in the same job or, if this is not practicable, every effort will be made to find suitable alternative employment and to provide appropriate training.
Ethical Business Practices
All employees are expected to behave ethically when working for the Company and this is reflected in our policies which are
disseminated to all of our employees.
Charitable Policies
BATM maintains a number of small charitable giving policies. BATM did not make any political donations in the 2017 financial year and made only charitable donations.
The Company actively encourages every employee to work to further charitable goals.
Community Involvement
BATM is involved with a number of community projects. These include involvement with local charitable organisations and hospitals that are designed to help bridge socio-economic divides and help the sick.