British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea Manufacturing announced on Tuesday that it has received the highest Platinum certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS).
AWS is an international water management certification body that comprehensively evaluates corporate water resource management systems. Based on assessment results, it assigns ratings across three levels: Platinum (highest), Gold, and Core.
The Platinum rating awarded to BAT’s Sacheon factory indicates that the company has achieved excellence in overall water resource management, including water quality facilities, management standards, water conservation efforts, and community collaboration.
Since obtaining AWS Core certification in 2022, BAT’s Sacheon factory has continuously improved its water resource management practices, ultimately earning the Platinum certification and surpassing the Gold level.
This achievement is attributed to the factory’s efforts to purify and recycle about 60,000 tons (about 132.3 million lbs) of annual wastewater generated during operations. Additionally, the company has consistently engaged in water resource protection activities in partnership with local governments and public institutions. These initiatives include water quality monitoring, joint training exercises to prevent water pollution incidents, flood prevention measures, and community engagement events such as a plogging activity in the Sacheon riverside area to commemorate World Water Day.
Kim Ji-hyung, the plant manager of BAT’s Sacheon facility, stated that this AWS Platinum certification formally recognizes its systematic water quality management, monitoring efforts, and commitment to protecting local water resources. He added that BAT’s Sacheon factory will continue to strengthen community partnerships based on responsible water resource management and strive to contribute to creating a sustainable manufacturing environment.