Sustainability has long been considered a way of life at CIC. Given the industries that it operates in, the Company’s long term success is tightly bound to the progress made in society, as well as to the survival of the natural environment as we know it. CIC is intrinsically linked with rural society given the widespread out-grower models operated by subsidiaries of the Group. In addition, subsidiaries depend on the natural environment for a multitude of essential raw materials required to produce its products up to the standards and applications desired.

 

CIC is therefore taking steps to protect the economy, social fabric of society, and the environment, not only for the benefit of its many stakeholders, but also in order to protect its own future.

Economic

CIC believes in value generation and its distribution amongst the widest possible cross section of the stakeholder community..

 

Local hiring – CIC Group strives to develop the local economy in each of its areas of operation, by increasing local employment figures. CIC’s practice of recruiting from the locales where its businesses operate, generate a multitude of economic benefits within those communities. CIC also commits to remunerating its staff well above the minimum thresholds stipulated for each industry that it operates in.

 

Local sourcing – CIC also understands that purchasing locally, gives rise to economic benefits. The company therefore aims to purchase from local suppliers wherever possible, while maintaining the quality and standards required.

Social

CIC believes in protecting the rights of society and thus adopts a ‘People conscious’ approach in all its activities.

 

Health and Safety – Health and safety of its workforce is of paramount importance to the CIC Group. All employees are therefore provided with necessary training including first aid, fire safety, and necessary job related training in order to ensure their health, safety, and wellbeing. All necessary safety equipment is also provided to staff, depending on the nature of their work.

 

Training and Development – CIC Group recognizes the fundamental importance of training, education, and development for the wellbeing and progress of its employees, and each entity is committed to providing timely and relevant training for their respective staff. All entities within the Group strive to ensure that all employees irrespective of staff grade have an equal opportunity for training and development.

 

Human rights – CIC is committed to protecting the human rights of its workforce as well as of all other stakeholders with whom it interacts. The Company enforces a strict non-discrimination policy, where no individual can be discriminated against based on gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or any other characteristic.

 

CIC also has a very strict policy with regards to the prevention of child labour, as well as the prevention of forced or compulsory labour. Steps are taken to ensure this does not occur within the Group, and a strict no tolerance policy is practiced in this regard across all entities.

 

Community – Local communities are a vital stakeholder of the CIC Group, particularly for CIC Agri Businesses and Link Natural where out-grower networks are in place. Through these programs, the company reaches and engages with a large number of small scale farmers, thereby uplifting their living standards and contributing towards their economic and social development as a whole.

 

CIC also believes in giving back to society. Whilst investing in varied community needs projects, CIC gives preference to investing in education. This is because we believe that education and knowledge will help raise the standards of living of rural communities, and it is from these communities that our future farmers, out-growers, and employees will emerge.

 

Product Responsibility – CIC believes in providing its customers with the best possible products and services, meeting the highest of standards. Customer health and safety is of the utmost importance to the CIC Group, particularly with regards to consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture and food related products. All products manufactured and marketed by the Group have been through stringent health and safety testing and have been developed into the final products that are produced by the Company today.

 

Companies within the CIC Group do not market or sell any products that are banned, or that are disputed. However, the use of fertilizer and crop protection chemicals continues to be a matter of stakeholder question and public debate on a national level, due to the alleged link to Chronic Kidney Disease particularly in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. To combat this, CIC continues to invest in education for the farmers who are its end consumers, and takes all steps to make them aware of the correct and safe application and use of these products.

Environmental

CIC believes that the environment is an integral ‘pillar’ of sustainability and acknowledges the absolute necessity to manage both the use of resources as well as the impact our business may exert on the environment.

Material usage – CIC Group recognizes that at times, environmental impacts can occur from the material stage of its production process. CIC is therefore mindful of the materials used, and companies within the Group strive to use recycled input materials in the production process wherever possible

 

Energy consumption – CIC Group believes in efficient use of energy, and is committed to reducing consumption wherever possible. The company strives to optimize its energy usage, and also takes steps to use renewable energy sources where it can. This effort can also serve to solve other environmental issues, as seen in our agriculture sector where paddy husks, a waste material from the production process, is used as a fuel source.

 

Water consumption – CIC Group believes in using water efficiently, and is well aware of the need to optimize its usage, being a predominant player in the agriculture industry. The consumption of water is taken very seriously particularly in the agriculture sector, and output per litre of waste is one indicator used when measuring the viability of any crop in our farms.

 

Waste management – CIC Group is aware and mindful of the liquid and solid substances that are emitted into the environment as a result of its operations, in the form of effluents and waste. The Company takes steps to reduce these to as great an extent as possible, and to make improvements in the quality and quantity of these substances that are discharged into the environment. Companies within the Group wherever possible are reusing and recycling their solid waste either in their own product processes, or through third parties.

 

Biodiversity – CIC Group as a policy, strives to ensure that biodiversity in any habitat interacted with by our operations, is protected and nourished. Maintaining the delicate balance of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is of utmost concern to us, and we strive to ensure that this is not affected by our operations. In fact, we take active steps to promote biodiversity, particularly across the eco-systems prevalent on our farms, where green zones are in place to ensure that biodiversity thrives.

R&D

As one of Sri Lanka’s leading blue-chip conglomerates, CIC Holdings PLC has the ability to adapt with the customer and the changing operating environment.

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CSR

‘CIC Manussakema’ is a multi-dimensional CSR initiative consisting of several programmes that are multifaceted in their nature and approach.

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Sustainability Reports

Report - 2017|18

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Report - 2016|17

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Report - 2015|16

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From the financial year ending 31st March 2016 CIC prepares its Annual Report   as an Integrated Report using the IR Framework issued by the International Integrated Reporting Council. As such, CIC does not issue a stand-alone sustainability report . Please refer the Annual Report for information on Sustainability

Report - 2013|14

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Report - 2014|15

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CIC Holdings