Skip to Main Content

Responsible Business

Responsible Business – What it means to us

As our prioritization of responsible business and embedding ESG principles becomes more critical, Hail & Cotton is committed to ensuring our practices have a positive impact on our society and in the communities where our presence is felt. Our social impact is as paramount an importance as our environmental impact.

Hail & Cotton is placing ESG at the center of our operations. We are committed to a strong work ethic and the safety of our employees to provide sustainable, quality products. Working in our local communities and with our growers we recognize that monitoring our impacts to make consistent improvements to reduce and prevent negative impacts is a key part of developing our ESG approach. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are dedicated and proud to protect our workers, their communities, and the planet.

Environment

Climate change and sustainability are at the top of most business’ agenda. Performing in a sustainable and ethical manner is a responsibility we have, to protect the environment for people and planet. As a buyer and producer of agricultural products, we recognize that environmental sustainability is non-negotiable and a prerequisite to the long-term success of our business. Through our involvement with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), we have been able to implement good practice and monitoring systems with our suppliers, as well as create awareness and a positive culture of environmental and social impacts. This is only the beginning as we work to go beyond good practice, into best practice, and promote the culture of a business who cares throughout Hail & Cotton.

Community

Our attention to social issues, including CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is an evolving area of focus at Hail & Cotton. Our unified culture demands a high level of business behavior across our global operations, and it is for this reason we will strive to develop a responsible approach to respect the communities in which we operate. Our employment and Sustainable Tobacco Production values center on people.

Sustainability

As we enter our second century of being in business, we understand now more than ever the importance of sustainable longevity. The Sustainable Tobacco Production program is comprehensive and means we are subject to audits by external bodies. While we are proud of our efforts, we know there is more to be done. Investing in sustainability and ESG is more than a project for us. It’s a way to produce positive practices, and create a culture of preservation and environmental care going forward.

Our Leadership

It is clear to us that ESG strategic and cultural goals will only be impactful with the support and commitment of our leadership team. Our executive team hopes that, starting with incorporating governance, we can embed sustainable resilience on all levels of operation.

  • Intellync Connected Intelligence Logo
    Sustainable Tobacco Production (STP)

    Hail & Cotton maintains a comprehensive program for STP that is subject to audits by recognized professional bodies such as AB Sustain. Our program focuses on environment, crop, facilities and people.
  • GAP Connections Logo
    Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

    Our trained agronomy teams develop and implement sound agricultural practices with our tobacco suppliers. Through our internal and external programs — Hail & Cotton Global GAP Program and GAP Connections (USA) — we create awareness and cultivate positive environmental and social impacts. We help connect farmers to resources needed to maintain a sustainable supply chain for our tobacco products.
  • AIB International Logo
    Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and American Institute of Baking (AIB)

    Partnering to help the tobacco industry comply with current practices established through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these practices are clearly identified and promote a clean working environment where the product and our people are protected.
  • Quality Management Systems (QMS)

    All USA facilities are certified to the guidelines of ISO 9001:2015, an internationally recognized compliance program that ensures top management commits to the quality of our product, on-time deliveries and promoting a safe working environment for all our employees. We are working toward implementation of ISO 9001:2015 in other operating origins.

Governance

Our Board provides leadership and direction to the business on ESG issues and is accountable for ensuring we operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. This leadership position is underpinned by a commitment to transparency and engagement throughout the business, which we continually seek to improve by strengthening our governance structures and practices. We recognize the high standards of governance required to operate in compliance with regulations and continue to meet stakeholder expectations.

Community Involvement

Hail & Cotton is an international company with a unified culture that adheres to a high level of business behavior in all our global operations, while respecting local laws, workforces and traditions. Our business is guided by our corporate values, which emphasize ethical behavior and dedication to our customers, employees, growers and communities.

Employment

Hail & Cotton provides equal opportunities to all persons with respect to employment and career development within the Company by practicing accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for the rule of law, and human rights. Personnel determinations are based on the individual’s qualifications and the merits of each case in accordance with national, state, and local laws.

Come be a part of the Hail & Cotton family.

Join Us

Hail & Cotton Memberships

Additionally, Hail & Cotton is a member of international organizations that promote business and ethical practices including:

  • Promotes international cooperation in tobacco research and identifies best practices.

  • Works to eliminate child labor in tobacco growing.