RPC Group has published its first Responsibility Report, setting out the company’s approach to doing business responsibly for the benefit of all its stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, suppliers, and the wider community and environment in which the business operates.

The RPC Responsibility Report offers detailed information and analysis on key areas of the group’s business performance, including its support for employees and local communities and effectively managing its supply chain.

With plastic's environmental performance currently very much in the spotlight, the Report also provides an in-depth look at the issues of plastic waste and how RPC is supporting initiatives to tackle this. In addition, there are detailed articles on the company’s design process that creates sustainable products, and the many actions it is taking across its operations to manage and reduce its own environmental impact.

During the year, environmental initiatives across the group have seen a continued lowering in carbon emissions with improvements in both water and electricity usage per tonne during 2017/18 and RPC has also explored the use of renewable energy across the business.

With the health and safety of everyone connected to the business RPC’s number one priority, the Report covers many of the initiatives in this area, including an increase in safety training hours and hazards resolved per person, which have contributed to further improvements in the company’s reportable accident frequency rate this year.

In addition, the Report emphasises the benefits of RPC’s decentralised structure, in particular how this creates an entrepreneurial culture that supports career development at every level of the business. Initiatives in 2017/18 have included the company’s new International Graduate Development programme and its cross-divisional Silver, Gold and Platinum programmes that will help build the next generation of leaders for the company.

“Over the past five years our Vison 2020: Focused Growth Strategy has delivered revenue growth of 282% and adjusted operating profit growth of 364%,” comments Pim Vervaat, RPC Group Chief Executive.

“Underpinning this growth is a transparent, responsible and sustainable approach to collaborating with our stakeholders, and a great respect for the environment in which we operate.

“This Responsibility Report encapsulates our ideals, beliefs and commitments that will continue to shape our strategy going forward.”

The RPC Responsibility Report is available to view and download at www.rpc-group.com/corporate/investors/reports-and-presentations.