ESG Committee

Terms of reference

The ESG Committee of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has been established with delegated powers in accordance with the articles of association. These Terms of Reference shall be publicly available by means of publication on the Company’s website and by making them available from the Company on request.

1. Membership

The ESG Committee shall consist of at least five members (the “Committee”), each of whom shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.
The Committee will comprise at least three independent non-executive directors. The Chair of the Board may also serve on the Committee as an additional member.
Appointments to the Committee shall be for a period of up to three years, which may be extendable by no more than two additional three year periods, provided the director still meets the criteria for membership of the Committee.
The Board shall appoint the Committee Chair. In the absence of the Committee Chair and/or an appointed deputy, the remaining members present shall elect one of themselves to chair the meeting who would qualify under these terms of reference to be appointed to that position by the Board.
Only members of the Committee have the right to attend Committee meetings. However, other individuals such as the Chair of the Board, other members of the senior management team and external advisers may be invited to attend all or any part of any meeting as and when appropriate and necessary.
The Committee Chair shall review membership of the Committee annually, as part of the annual performance evaluation of the Committee.

2. Secretary

The Company Secretary or his or her nominee shall act as the secretary of the Committee and will ensure that the Committee receives information and papers in a timely manner to enable full and proper consideration to be given to the issues.

3. Quorum

The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be a majority of members present in person or linked by telephone or video conference facilities. A duly convened meeting of the Committee at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Committee.

4. Frequency of meetings

The Committee shall meet at least three times a year and at such other times as its business requires as determined by its members or the Chair.

5. Notice of meetings

Meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Secretary of the Committee at the request of any of its members.
The Secretary of the Committee shall give notice of each meeting confirming the venue, time and date together with an agenda of items to be discussed and any supporting documentation to each member of the Committee and any other person required to attend no later than three working days before the date of the meeting.

6. Minutes of meetings

The Secretary of the Committee shall minute the proceedings and resolutions of all Committee meetings, including recording the names of those present and in attendance.
Minutes of Committee meetings should be circulated promptly to all members of the Committee and, once agreed, circulated to all members of the Board, unless in the opinion of the Committee Chair it would be inappropriate to do so.

7. Authority

The Committee is authorised by the Board to determine Company policy within its terms of reference.
The Committee is authorised by the Board to seek any information it requires from any employee of the Company in order to perform its duties.
The Committee is authorised by the Board to obtain, at the Company’s expense, any outside legal or other professional advice on matters within its terms of reference.

8. Decisions of the Committee

Any decisions of the Committee shall be taken on a simple majority basis. The Chair shall have a casting vote in the event of equality of voting.

9. Responsibilities

The Committee shall:

ensure that the Company has an ESG strategy (the “Better World Pledge”) and that it remains fit for purpose and consistent with the Company’s purpose, culture and values whilst supporting the Company’s long term sustainable success;
ensure that short and long term objectives of the Better World Pledge are in place and that key metrics are reported on;
monitor and review the effectiveness of the Company’s ESG strategy and the governance in place to ensure the successful delivery of activities across the Group’s Better World Pledge;
monitor and review the overall implementation of the Company’s Better World Pledge within the specific areas of Pet Welfare, People, Climate Change and Waste Management and Product and Supply Chain Management;
approve projects developed in response to implementation of the Better World Pledge strategy;
ensure that all related codes of practice and policies are regularly reviewed and updated and remain in compliance with any relevant national and international laws and regulations;
receive regular reports from the chair of each management team tasked with implementing the Better World Pledge within the specific areas of:
- Pet Welfare;
- Climate Change and Waste Management; and
- Product and Supply Chain Management;
monitor, review and consider all recommendations in response to ESG issues raised and review the execution and implementation of plans previously approved by the Committee;
monitor, review and consider stakeholder engagement in ESG activities and review key external disclosures;
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, monitor and review the following elements of the Group’s Better World Pledge strategy with respect to:
- Pet Welfare, including:
  - promoting pet welfare;
  - promoting pet nutrition;
  - promoting responsible pet ownership;
  - educating and supporting new and existing pet owners;
  - supporting pets in need;
  - welfare standards for all pets sold within or adopted from the Group’s stores and assigned to the Group’s care either in the grooming salons or veterinary surgeries including joint venture practices;
  - compliance with legislation covering the sale of pets in store, the welfare of pets in general and the practice of veterinary medicine;
  - where appropriate engage in and exercise influence over the development of legislation which will affect the sale of live pets in store, the welfare of pets in general and the practice of veterinary medicine;
  - customer and colleague feedback in respect of pet welfare standards in stores, grooming and the Group’s veterinary surgeries including joint venture practices;
  - all ethical matters in respect of supply, transportation and sale of pets including the supplier audits;
  - the impact of public relations, social media and media on the Group;
  - compliance with the Group’s pet processes to include store audits and test purchases;
  - promote clinical excellence and the clinical practice standards in place in the Group’s veterinary surgeries including the joint venture practices; and
  - any other matter referred to it by the Board or the Audit and Risk Committee;
- People, including:
  - creating and delivering a diversity and inclusion strategy;
  - promoting clinical excellence in the Group’s general veterinary practices;
  - promoting health and safety and colleague wellbeing;
  - supporting Community Pet and People initiatives including through:
    - the Group’s charity and fundraising activities;
    - VIP Lifelines; and
    - colleague volunteering.
- Climate Change and Waste Management and Product and Supply Chain Management, by minimising the Group’s environmental impact including in the areas of:
  - packaging reduction, recycling and re-use and the elimination of plastic;
  - energy usage and management;
  - fuel efficiency;
  - water usage;
  - waste management;
  - sustainability of packaging and raw ingredients;
  - the use of renewable energy and carbon offset or mitigation schemes;
  - product safety and customer satisfaction;
  - animal welfare considerations regarding the manufacture of products;
  - the environmental impact of pet product manufacture;
  - sustainability of pet food products;
  - protecting human rights in our supply chains;
  - the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and
  - understanding and managing the biodiversity impacts of our business operations and supply chain;
- monitor, review and consider the Group’s continued approach to ESG and the above proposed agenda of activity to ensure it is commensurate with retaining the Group’s position at the centre of its communities, a responsible pet care business and at the forefront of enacting and complying with current legislation; and
- approve all ESG reporting including information to be included in the Company’s Annual Report.

10. Reporting responsibilities

The Committee Chair and/or any other member so nominated by the Committee Chair shall report formally to the Board on its proceedings after each meeting on all matters within its duties and responsibilities.
The Committee shall make whatever recommendations to the Board or the Audit and Risk Committee it deems appropriate on any area within its remit where action or improvement is needed.

11. Other matters