CAMBRIDGE, ON, Sept. 29, 2021 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling
Systems Inc. (TSX: ATA) ("ATS" or the "Company"), an
industry-leading automation solutions provider, today underlined
its ongoing commitment to sustainability and transparency by
issuing its 2021 Sustainability Report for the period ending
March 31, 2021 entitled Forward
Together on ESG.
In addition to highlighting recent accomplishments in key
priority areas – ethics and integrity, people, social
responsibility, and responsible manufacturing and service – the
report introduces five specific sustainability goals to achieve by
2030.
"Our sustainability targets for 2030 stand as our public pledge
to drive improvement in areas essential to the future growth,
protection and prosperity of our business, and the world around
us," said Andrew Hider, CEO of ATS.
"The initial targets we've set, including the ambitious goal of
becoming carbon neutral, compel us to act with the discipline and
accountability that are vital to the achievement of a successful
sustainability journey. After establishing a baseline for ESG
performance in 2020 using the disciplines embedded in the ATS
Business Model, we are proud to issue this new report and to set in
motion the actions that will help us to live up to our
commitments."
Key highlights of the report include:
- Navigating the Covid-19 pandemic challenges: When the
COVID-19 pandemic struck, ATS was prepared. The Company had begun
planning early in 2020 and one of its first initiatives was to
develop and launch a pandemic playbook which served as a guide for
managers and employees in adjusting workplaces and work habits to
their new shared reality. The report details actions taken to
protect the health and wellbeing of ATS' global workforce and the
continuity of its operations since the COVID-19 pandemic was
declared.
- Establishing 2030 sustainability targets: These specific
and measurable targets address ATS' business and people priorities.
The sustainability targets include becoming carbon neutral,
increasing women in leadership, reducing workplace injuries,
ensuring ethical business training for all employees, and expanding
ATS' engagement with the communities where it operates.
- Supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs): By virtue of ATS' products and services and its
governance, leadership and strategy, the Company is playing a
constructive role in a variety of areas that advance SDGs with
particular focus on: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 9:
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible
Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
- Aligning with Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
(SASB) framework: To prepare the report, ATS aligned its
management approach and performance disclosures to SASB's
Industrial Machinery and Goods Standard. The Company believes this
approach enables greater focus on material metrics and facilitates
comparison across its peer group.
The full 2021 Sustainability Report is available on ATS'
website.
About ATS
ATS is an industry-leading automation
solutions provider to many of the world's most successful
companies. ATS uses its extensive knowledge base and global
capabilities in custom automation, repeat automation, automation
products and value-added services, including pre-automation and
after-sales services, to address the sophisticated manufacturing
automation systems and service needs of multinational customers in
markets such as life sciences, food & beverage, transportation,
consumer products, and energy. Founded in 1978, ATS employs over
5,000 people at 28 manufacturing facilities and over 50 offices in
North America, Europe, Southeast
Asia and China. The
Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbol ATA. Visit the Company's website at
www.atsautomation.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable
securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of ATS, or developments in ATS'
business or in its industry, to differ materially from the
anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding
possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based
on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of
action. Forward-looking statements may also include, without
limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or
circumstances. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other
things, five long-term sustainability targets. The risks and
uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include,
among others: the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic in
all jurisdictions where the Company conducts its business; the
impact of the global economy and general market performance
including capital market conditions and availability and cost of
credit; performance of the markets that ATS serves; foreign
currency and exchange risk; the relative strength of the Canadian
dollar; impact of factors such as increased pricing pressure and
possible margin compression; the regulatory and tax environment;
that ATS may not meet one or more of the long-term sustainability
targets for any number of reasons including failure of workplace
safety programs to generate the desired results, inability to
attract female leadership talent, lack of employee engagement in
social responsibility initiatives, unexpected costs associated with
reducing emissions and inability to source lower emission
alternatives, that one or more customers, or other entities with
which the Company has contracted, experience insolvency or
bankruptcy with resulting delays, costs or losses to the Company;
political, labour or supplier disruptions; risks relating to legal
proceedings to which ATS is or may become a party; exposure to
product and/or professional liability claims; and other risks
detailed from time to time in ATS' filings with Canadian provincial
securities regulators. There can be no assurance that forward
looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information
contained herein which speak only as of the date they are made.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans,
estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and other than as
required by applicable securities laws, ATS does not undertake any
obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions
related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and
opinions change
SOURCE ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.