Although all of Ridley’s operations have taken measures to embrace sustainable practices, our Australian operations are the first to be subject to sustainability reporting and monitoring. This report focuses on our Australian businesses only. We will progressively develop targets and report on progress in other parts of our business.

Given the lack of any universally accepted definition of sustainability, Ridley has adopted the concept of “eco-efficiency” as proposed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2004). Our aim is to position Ridley - and encourage employees, customers and suppliers - to operate successfully while at the same time reducing our impact on the physical and operating environment. The benefits are many: increasing eco-efficiency can lead to increased shareholder value as a result of reduced injuries, less waste, more efficient use of energy and resources, better control of risk exposures and improved corporate citizenship.

To put our application of eco-efficiency principles into perspective, it is necessary to understand the nature of Ridley’s Australian businesses. Both Ridley AgriProducts and Cheetham Salt are intrinsically eco-friendly, with more than 99% of the raw materials they use being natural or biological. Both produce food (so hygienic integrity is a key concern) and both are low organic and chemical waste producers. This means that they are low polluters.

Ridley takes its environmental and social responsibilities seriously. Many of our production plants are located in or close to country towns. Though small in industrial terms, these plants represent an important economic presence in the areas they serve. Equally, we recognise that this places a responsibility on us to run our plants in a way consistent with community expectations, particularly in regard to potential impacts on people and the environment.

In 2001, Ridley embarked on a program of risk assessment and management across a wide range of its business areas. Following its successful implementation, the program was expanded the following year to increase the focus on environmental management. In 2003 it was expanded further to embrace the principles of sustainability. Therefore, our focus on sustainability is part of an overall program of risk assessment and minimisation. This program has guided the development of our sustainability agenda, which is in turn supported by relevant policies, procedures and measurement systems. Much of the work completed in 2003 was to establish our baselines and research options for further activity.