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**Sustainability Efforts at Aristocrat: A Company-Wide Approach**
Aristocrat’s approach to sustainability is a unified company-wide effort, according to Harry Ashton, the group’s general manager for sustainability. He emphasizes that it features prominently in the organization’s strategy, operations, and the values and culture upheld by its global teams.
Ashton points out that sustainability is critical for maintaining long-term commitments to the communities where the company operates. It’s also vital for serving customers and players, enhancing both the business and the broader industries they engage with.
**Sustainability Embedded Across Business Practices**
Sustainability is woven into various aspects of Aristocrat’s business practices, tailored to specific areas of focus. This includes comprehensive policies that are supported by awareness programs and training on topics like responsible gambling, privacy, cybersecurity, modern slavery, and anti-bribery and corruption.
Moreover, goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to the organization’s hiring procedures, and there are specialized programs for executives and board members.
**Extending Sustainability to the Supply Chain**
Aristocrat’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond internal operations, impacting the entire value chain. Ashton notes that the company collaborates closely with its supply chain through surveys and enforces adherence to a supplier code of conduct. Additionally, they engage customers with technology that promotes responsible gameplay and run awareness campaigns targeting players.
This reflects a broader industry trend where sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial, particularly for major operators and suppliers.
**Growing Importance of ESG**
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) maturity varies globally, with different expectations based on geography and market segment. The trend is towards integrating sustainability into core business strategies and enhancing reporting practices. It’s also a key area of interest for investors, prompting Aristocrat to host an investor day focused on ESG issues to build transparency and confidence.
**Moving Forward with a New ESG Cycle**
Aristocrat’s ESG journey began by merging various strategies into a more cohesive framework. With the maturation of their initiatives, operation-level ownership has increased. Most priorities now align with the business’s objectives, not just the sustainability team’s.
Currently concluding a three-year cycle for their ESG strategy (FY22-24), Aristocrat has conducted a double materiality assessment for its next strategic phase, set to be unveiled later this year. The company aims to expand sustainability disclosures to meet evolving stakeholder expectations and new mandatory reporting requirements.
This commitment to sustainability has distinguished Aristocrat, earning them a second-place ranking in FiNTEL Sustain’s inaugural Sustainability+ rankings. Ashton credits this achievement to the dedication and support of the Aristocrat team, leadership, and board, while emphasizing that sustainability is an ongoing journey requiring continuous improvement.
**Conclusion**
In the coming days, iGB will reveal more of the top-ranked companies in FiNTEL Sustain’s Sustainability Plus system. Be sure to catch an exclusive interview with Robert Montgomery and Steven Myers, FiNTEL Sustain founders, discussing the reasoning behind the creation of a gaming-specific rating system.
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