Sustainability Framework

Brambles provides reusable packaging that is pooled through many users. Sharing our reusable products in this circular model is inherently sustainable.

Brambles has an excellent opportunity to deliver environmental benefits due to its unique position in the supply chain. We help customers understand their supply chains and minimise their environmental footprint.

Because of the environmental efficiencies of our pooling model, CHEP is able to achieve carbon neutrality for customers and some of our markets and products.

For example, CHEP’s carbon neutral pallet program allows participating customers to offset the annual carbon footprint of their CHEP pallet movements with internationally-recognised certified credits, organised in partnership with the Carbon Neutral Company. Customers are able to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chain and invest in reforestation projects in developing countries.

Brambles works with customers and suppliers to deliver mutually beneficial, sustainable solutions.

Brambles first shared value is all things begin with the customer. Our businesses engage customers through industry initiatives and strategic forums and hear the Voice of the Customer through leadership meetings, face-to-face interviews, global market insights, sharing of best practice, the Net Promoter (NPS) program and customer care centres.

We use our logistics knowledge to minimise the footprint of our customers and supply chain through network optimisation, when our team sources transport nearer to customers, reducing transport distances and associated emissions.

CHEP also works collaboratively with customers to eliminate unnecessary empty return various truck trips, so that customers benefit from sharing transportation and fill empty space on trucks.

CHEP also uses multimodal (train, sea and road) solutions to move pallets throughout the network.

Brambles’ businesses are also well placed to address the environmentally important issue of food loss and waste in the supply chain.

Integrity is crucial in our ability to successfully execute strategy and meet objectives.

Good governance is fundamental to the delivery of all of our sustainability strategies and targets. Brambles undertakes a process that includes the identification of material risks, including economic, environmental and social risks related to sustainability. 

As a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and with operations in more than 50 countries, we are subject to an extensive range of legal, regulatory and governance requirements. 

Our Board is conscious that best practice is continuously evolving and will continue to anticipate and respond to further corporate developments. 

All our businesses are subject to Brambles’ Code of Conduct and training in the Code is provided to all employees annually. 

Brambles Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy comprehensively explains what is expected of Brambles employees and provides clear guidance on what kinds of payments, gifts or hospitality are prohibited (or, in some circumstances, where pre-approval is required).  

A Bribery Prevention Group has been established comprising the Company Secretary, the Group General Counsel, Regional General Counsel, and the Chief Compliance Officer.

Brambles expects suppliers’ practices to be in line with our principles and we are committed to driving efficiency and environmental sustainability in the supply chains we serve.

Following the addition of the supplier policy in August 2013, we have engaged strategic suppliers to consider its practical application.

Brambles 2015 Corporate Governance Statement outlines the key components of Brambles’ governance framework in place during the year ended 30 June 2015 (Year), by reference to the Australian Securities Exchange Corporate Governance Council Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, Third Edition (CGPR). During the Year, the Board believes Brambles met or exceeded all the requirements of the CGPR, and details of our compliance with the CGPR is set out in the document.

Our Sustainability Governance document outlines our strategy, governance, stakeholder engagement and identification of material sustainability issues.

Brambles believes an engaging, safe, tolerant and diverse work environment brings out the best in our people and helps them reach their potential.

Engagement and Enablement
Employee engagement and enablement is tracked through the annual confidential Brambles Employee Survey (BES). Brambles uses the survey to seek feedback from employees, track progress against previous responses and identify key actions for improvement.

Brambles’ enablement score is a measure of how supportive the organisational environment is for employees to perform their best. 

Safety 
Brambles' Zero Harm Charter states that everyone has the right to be safe at work and to return home to their family and friends as healthy as when they started the day. Each and every person is expected to work safely. Brambles seeks to apply best occupational health, safety and environment practice for employees, contractors, customers and local communities.

The key risks for injury in our businesses include driving and the segregation of pedestrians from vehicles and equipment. The major types of injury include strains, nail punctures, lacerations and slips. These issues are addressed by safety initiatives.

Brambles’ businesses also work closely on safety with our extensive network of outsourced service centres. 

Learning and Development
One of our areas of focus is the learning and development opportunities available to our people.

Brambles talent development strategy focuses on the Group’s continuous improvement in three areas:

1. Organisational capability through strategic workforce planning that looks forward over a five-year period.
2. Organisational culture that fosters talent through development programs for all levels of the business.
3. Organisational effectiveness, through platforms and programs like the global Workday system and easily accessible learning for all employees. 

Brambles operates a competency framework which allows employees to understand their required skills and competencies and those needed for career progression. This framework is at the core of our recruitment efforts and performance appraisal systems. Every employee has an annual appraisal with their manager.

Inclusion and Diversity
Brambles is committed to selecting, recruiting, developing and supporting people solely on the basis of their professional capability and qualifications, irrespective of gender and other diversity factors. 

Brambles selects, retains and develops the best people for the job on the basis of merit and job related competencies. 

Brambles established an Inclusion and Diversity Council in 2013, which is responsible for developing the vision, strategy and action plans for encouraging and nurturing an inclusive culture across the Group.

Brambles is committed to achieving Zero Harm and considers social and environmental impacts in the purchasing and use of materials. 

As a credible and trusted partner in our customers’ supply chains, we need to continuously improve the way we source materials.

Brambles has identified the key materials that, through proactive engagement with our suppliers and customers, we can positively influence and subsequently improve our supply chain.

Wood
The ongoing, secure supply of wood or timber is critical to Brambles. The Pallets segment uses timber to make and repair reusable CHEP pallets in Brambles’ pooling system.

Brambles has a target of achieving chain of custody (COC) certification for 100% of wood purchased for manufacture and repair of CHEP pallets.

The global procurement team controls the sourcing of timber for CHEP pallets. Through their activities the team has improved timber supply chain transparency and understanding of certification schemes and the status of maturity of COC certification of supply in key markets.

To promote the responsible and sustainable procurement of timber the team continues to work with strategic suppliers to further increase available supply of COC certified timber, in line with our target.

100% of timber purchased for CHEP pallets is policy compliant. In the absence of COC certification CHEP due diligence has been undertaken to provide confidence that the lumber used in the production and repair of CHEP pallets has not come from controversial sources.

Plastic
Brambles’ businesses purchase plastic for the manufacture of reusable plastic pallets, crates and containers for use by our customers. IFCO recycles 100% of plastic from reusable plastic crates (RPCs) at end of life, regrinding all damaged containers and reprocessing the granulate for use in new RPCs. 

Detergents
Brambles’ businesses purchase commercial quantities of detergent to wash pallets, RPCs and containers. Our suppliers’ position on the sustainable sourcing of palm oil, if this is relevant, is also assessed.

Other materials
Brambles uses other materials purchased to create and maintain pooling equipment issued to customers, including:

• metal purchased for use in pallets, RPCs and containers;
• metal purchased, primarily the steel used in nails and fasteners for wood pallets; and
• paint used on CHEP’s pooled wood pallets.

Brambles is working with customers and suppliers to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and sustainability of these material supply chains. 

Brambles is focused on continuously improving accurately measuring and reducing our total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3).

This will enable our businesses to effectively demonstrate to customers the environmental benefits of our product and service offerings.

Measurement of Scope 3 emissions represents a challenge. The two largest third-party or supplier activities that generate material Scope 3 GHG emissions are the outsourced service centres (OSC) in Brambles’ network and subcontracted transport carriers that move pallets through the network.

CDP submission 2016

Brambles is committed to using resources efficiently and minimising waste. 

With pooling models that operate on the principles of recover, reuse, reduce and recycle, we are focused on continuously improving our performance to reduce material consumption, maintenance costs and meet stakeholders’ sustainability expectations.

Compared with disposable pallets, pallet pooling significantly reduces the use of wood and waste. Unlike CHEP's pallet pooling system, many other types of wooden pallets (without a clear system of ownership and accountability) end up in landfill. 

By maintaining ownership of our assets and enforcing a system of controls, we can maximise the reuse of materials in the pallet pool or recycle materials away from landfill at the end of the pallets’ useful lives.

When a pooled pallet is returned to a service centre, the pallet is checked for quality. Undamaged pallets are returned to the pool. Sound wooden boards are removed from damaged pallets and used for repair work. Wood that cannot be reused is recycled for use as a fuel source, mulch, or other purpose.

IFCO recycles 100% of plastic from reusable plastic crates (RPCs) by regrinding all damaged containers and reprocessing the granulate for use in new RPCs. 

General and hazardous waste
General solid waste (for example office/sanitation) is handled by local solid waste management or recycling facilities. Where possible in office locations, segregation and recycling programs are in place.

Universal waste and used oil (both generated in limited quantities), as well as cardboard, plastic and metals, are generally reused or recycled where facilities are available.

CHEP’s hazardous waste predominately relates to paint, paint residues, inks, oil and contaminated water, disposed of responsibly.

In the Containers segment, CHEP Catalyst & Chemical Containers Inc (CCC) handles waste on the behalf of its customers. CCC provides packaging systems, on-site management and logistics support for the storage and shipment of catalysts used in petroleum refining, gas processing and petrochemicals manufacturing. While CCC cannot eliminate waste, steps are taken to reduce the amount of waste handled.

Brambles recognises that water is a precious resource. In many regions where our businesses operate, water supply is a critical issue for the community.

Our operations have a responsibility to use water wisely. 

The RPC segment is our largest user of water. At the end of each cycle, every crate must be washed and sanitised in line with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards before they are re-issued.

Brambles contributes positively to the communities in which we operate by supporting environment, education and food loss and waste initiatives, and by encouraging our people to participate in local community initiatives.

Brambles recognises that by applying our logistics and supply chain expertise we are uniquely placed to help reduce food waste throughout the value chain. 

One of our key community partnerships is with food banks around the world. Working with food banks not only provides assistance to community groups and charities working with those less fortunate, but it also helps to reduce food waste by diverting usable products from landfill.

Brambles’ businesses provide in-kind and financial support to community groups around the world, focusing on the areas of education and environment.

In 2014, Brambles CEO Tom Gorman was nominated to join the board of Enactus, an international organisation dedicated to promoting entrepreneurial capabilities and capacity among young people through on-the-ground projects led by university students. Many of the projects focus on areas where we are active, such as reducing waste, reusing materials and improving energy efficiency.

Employee volunteering
Brambles has an employee volunteering policy, which provides employees with three days of paid volunteer leave per year during usual contracted hours to provide volunteer services to community-based not-for-profit, educational, or environmental organisations.