By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Universal reported that renewable electricity rose to 17.8% of global electricity use and that Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell 7.7% year-over-year in FY2025.
• The company reported 200,780 contracted tobacco farmers and 2,007,500 farm visits/contacts, along with large-scale PPE distribution and labor monitoring.
• Universal said it completed a CSRD-aligned double-materiality assessment and expanded its ESG disclosures in line with the GRI and SASB frameworks.

Universal Corporation is using its latest sustainability report to show its tobacco customers exactly what “supply chain ESG” looks like on the ground.

In its newly released 2025 Sustainability Report, Universal — the world’s best-known leaf tobacco merchant and a major agriproducts supplier — details its performance across energy, emissions, water stewardship, forestry, and farm oversight for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

“Building on decades of commitment, sustainability remains central to Universal’s strategy and long-term success,” said Preston D. Wigner, Chairman, President, and CEO of Universal Corporation. “By integrating sustainability into our global business, we are better positioned to serve customers, support farmers, strengthen our supply chain, and protect the environment.”

According to the report, during fiscal year 2025, Universal achieved significant progress towards its sustainability goals including:

Environmental Progress:

• Increased renewable electricity consumption by nearly sixfold, with 17.8% of global electricity sourced from renewables, advancing toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Reduced combined Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 7.7% year-over-year, and secured Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval for near-term, long-term, and net-zero targets.
• Recycled 28.8 million liters of water, a 24% increase over the prior year, and expanded water stewardship programs in high-risk regions.
• Planted over 13 million trees globally and strengthened traceability for curing fuel, with 69% of farmers using 100% traceable fuel.

Social Impact:

• Directly contracted with more than 200,000 tobacco farmers and completed over 2 million farm visits, reinforcing Good Agricultural Practices and Agricultural Labor Practices.
• Distributed 445,000 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits to farmers.
• Advanced workplace safety through global Behavioral-Based Safety programs and completed 28,000 inspections, a 33% increase year-over-year.

Governance & Transparency:

• Conducted a double materiality assessment aligned with the European Union Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
• Expanded the quality, consistency, and scope of the data disclosed in alignment with leading reporting frameworks and evolving regulatory expectations.

Universal’s 2025 Sustainability Report details the Company’s performance from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and was prepared in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), with consideration of the EU CSRD and guidance from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2025 Sustainability Report is available at www.universalcorp.com/sustainability.