The ITW Construction Asia Pacific Sustainability Promise
ITW is embarking on a journey to achieve sustainable excellence, following the global guidelines and commitments set by ITW.
As a market leader in the construction and hardware industries, we are making a promise to lead and inspire the hardware industry into a sustainable future. On this journey we are focusing on reducing our packaging and creating innovative solutions to solve packaging waste.
We are active members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. We are committing to the National Packaging Guidelines 2025.
The 2025 Targets provide a framework for collective, national action on waste management, recycling and resource recovery for our product packaging. They include:
- 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging.
- 70% plastic packaging being recycled or composted.
- 50% average recycled content included in packaging (revised from 30% in 2020).
- The phase-out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.
What does this mean for Zenith?
A wide selection of Zenith’s leading hardware products are used for or in timber-constructed homes. To keep products and materials in use by regenerating natural systems, our goal is to achieve a circular economy by sourcing our paper items from FSC-certified suppliers, ensuring our paper is renewable and sustainable. We are continuing our journey towards a circular economy by increasing the use of recycled content in transit packaging and in-store packaging.
We are proud users of the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). As a customer of Zenith, you will see an increasing and swift change towards product packaging that uses the ARL. This aligns with our plan to move towards sustainable packaging, follow sustainable packaging guidelines, and generate an evidence-based recycling label for the Australian and New Zealand market.
ITW’s commitment to sustainability is rooted in our Core Values, integrated into our strategy and operations, and supported by strong governance practices. As part of our vision to be one of the world’s best-performing, highest-quality, and most respected industrial companies, we support our employees and communities in making a difference in the world around us. This includes offering employees one paid volunteer day per year at the charity of their choice in this space.
Our commitment to the environment
ITW’s fact-based approach to protecting the natural environment is based on continuous improvement and is consistent with our “Do what we say” culture.
Environmental initiatives across ITW
As ITW strives to reduce environmental impacts across all our businesses, we continuously evaluate opportunities to invest in initiatives that improve operational efficiencies and reduce our environmental impact. Examples include:
- Energy efficiency projects, such as LED lighting retrofits, HVAC improvements, heat recovery and building improvements
- Manufacturing equipment upgrades and process optimisation to improve performance and reduce energy usage
- Recycling scrap materials through vendor partnerships and the reuse of pallets and packaging materials
- Manufacturing process changes to reduce waste
- Water recycling system installations to treat water for reuse.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
ITW recognises that we must do our part in addressing climate change, and that requires reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. ITW has a track record of achieving Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions goals through ongoing investment in resources and technology.
ITW intends to achieve a 50% absolute reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 (market-based) GHG emissions by 2030, compared with a 2021 baseline. We have made considerable progress through highly effective division-led initiatives, with a 40% reduction in GHG emissions through 2024.
Ethics and compliance
We set high ethical standards for our company and partners that help us deliver best-in-class performance and create value for our stakeholders. Ethics and compliance training are an important part of our commitment to operating our business with the highest ethical conduct. ITW does not tolerate ethical violations, and all colleagues are expected to know and follow the rules.
Our Code of Conduct, which is reviewed annually and updated as needed, reinforces ITW’s commitment to the highest level of ethical conduct and describes the standards of behaviour governing all ITW colleagues, directors, businesses and subsidiaries around the globe. ITW’s Core Values are the foundation of the Code, which also applies to ITW’s suppliers through our Supplier Code of Conduct and in our standard purchase order terms and conditions.
The Code also outlines our commitment to compliance with human rights, anti-corruption, data protection, and privacy laws, as well as fair and honest competition and all applicable trade laws and restrictions.
Our Code of Ethics outlines ITW’s principles regarding fair, ethical and honest business dealings, full and fair disclosure, and compliance with applicable laws for our CEO, CFO and all key financial personnel.
The Environmental and Sustainability Policy reinforces ITW’s commitment to global environmental sustainability, which is reflected in the following priorities:
- Ongoing improvement of our environmental performance
- Working with suppliers who operate with similar dedication to global environmental sustainability
- Partnering with our customers to innovate solutions that address their needs for environmentally responsible products.
Our Human Rights Policy reinforces our commitment to demonstrating respect for human rights at ITW and throughout our supply chain. It applies to all ITW colleagues and locations worldwide and to others who may act on ITW’s behalf.
Modern slavery statement
ITW is committed to conducting its business with integrity, fairness and respect for human rights. We oppose all forms of modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking, and take active steps to ensure these practices do not occur within our operations or supply chain. We work closely with our suppliers to uphold ethical standards, promote transparency, and comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).