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BAT INVESTMENT factory in Romania, certified with the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard (AWS) – a solid commitment for responsible water use

3 February 2025

BAT INVESTMENT Ploiesti, one of the 3 economic entities of BAT group in Romania, constantly invests in sustainability and is proud that its efforts for the responsible use of resources are acknowledged. One of the most important certifications is the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard (AWS), received in 2022. Globally, 70% of the BAT factories are AWS certified.

AWS, a solid public commitment for the responsible use of water

In the context of its continuous efforts for a responsible use of resources and environment protection, BAT INVESTMENT Ploiesti committed to reduce its use of water and to promote increased responsibility for the use of natural resources. Moreover, the company aims to become a strong voice in 2025 on the local market in addressing the challenges brought about by the rational use of this indispensable resource, through sustained involvement and collaboration with stakeholders, other companies, local authorities, NGOs and universities.

The BAT factory in Ploiești thus expands its area of interest in addressing this challenge also in terms of the impact it can generate on local water reserves for the community, analyzing the available resources, their quality and variations, the impact of other companies on the water reserves used by BAT and vice versa, defining actions to prevent and combat water shortages.

„Our business relies on natural resources, and their responsible management and conservation is essential to delivering our strategy. As a global company, we have a responsibility that reaches beyond business, so we are committed to leading the way in environmental stewardship. Our target is to reduce our withdrawn water by 35% across our operations, and the AWS certification for the Ploiesti factory and for 70% of our factories globally demonstrates we are on the right track for a responsible water management. We highly rely on local authorities, commercial partners, experts, and academia to join the debate and our efforts in this direction, making every drop count as we build a better, more sustainable future for all” Simon Brown, SEE Area Operations Director in BAT, said.

These initiatives complement the projects initiated in 2017 to reach the company’s objectives for a significant reduction of water use in production and related daily operations. In 2024, BAT factory in Ploiesti managed to reduce its water use by more than 30,000m³ and to recycle over 15% of the water in industrial processes. Our commitment is to further preserve the AWS certification and improve our performance in water management in the community we are part of, by

Continuing the investments in innovative solutions and technology,
Developing the factory’s local and national collaborations, to identify and promote best practices for a responsible water use,
Developing awareness campaigns on the importance of an efficient and responsible use of water.

BAT factory in Ploiesti is the second largest of the group in Europe. Since its construction in 1996, over 500 mil euros were invested for its development and modernization, and today it is one of the largest producers of tobacco products and consumables for glo, our flagship heating device. Close to 70% of the factory’s production in Romania goes to export in countries around the world, BAT contributing significantly to Romania’s trade balance. The BAT factory in Ploiesti is an important employer, with over 1,100 people working there.