Natalie Watson has joined Lancashire-based flexible polyurethane (PU) foam manufacturer The Vita Group as its new Head of Sustainability, bolstering its long-term commitment to ESG.
In her new role, Natalie will focus on further developing The Vita Group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, implementing the plans outlined in Enhancing Everyday Life, the company’s inaugural sustainability report published earlier this year.
This will involve helping to build a new environmental management system, supporting key greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and supporting the commercialisation of Vita’s sustainability-focussed product ranges.
Vita recently set company-wide emissions reduction targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In doing so, it became the first PU foam manufacturer to set science-based emissions reduction targets in line with the level of decarbonisation required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Natalie joins Vita from her own consulting business, where she worked with a wide variety of clients across multiple sectors helping them define and implement their environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies. Prior to this, Natalie worked for Extentia Group Ltd., a Manchester-based construction company. In this role, she undertook a number of roles focussed on sustainability, health and wellbeing and project management.
Commenting on her appointment, Natalie said: “Over recent years The Vita Group has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the climate crisis by implementing transformative initiatives throughout its operations. A key driver of this has been Vita’s commitment to product circularity; ensuring as much waste is recycled into new, market-leading products as possible. It’s a privilege to now be tasked with building upon the work to ensure we meet our ambitious – but achievable, and absolutely necessary – targets.
“A key part of my role will be conveying to all key stakeholders across our value chain that we need to work together on this – the climate is at a crisis point, and we will only achieve our ultimate aim of preserving the planet for future generations through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“Throughout its history, The Vita Group has consistently used its expertise and a passion for innovation to deliver products that help enhance the world around us. As Head of Sustainability, I’ll use those same principles to ensure our targets are met and we continue to create outstanding products while simultaneously delivering on the promises we’ve made to our customers, supply chain, and planet.”
Dave Kowal, Chief People and Sustainability Officer at The Vita Group, said: “2022 has been a very exciting year for The Vita Group’s sustainability strategy. From the launch of our first sustainability report to our landmark accreditation from the Science Based Targets initiative, we are proud to be demonstrating real leadership in the most important challenge any of us will ever face.
“However, the scale of the task at hand means we must always demand further improvements and Natalie’s appointment will help us do just that. Natalie will use her experience from different sectors to help us both achieve our already set targets, and to also develop new ambitions for how we can take our business to the next level in terms of aligning with climate science and bringing our customers and supply chain with us in the transition to a low carbon world.”
