Interview

Robert Pye, CEO, Filtrona: Focus is on innovation and future-proofing

In this interview, Filtrona’s Robert Pye, CEO, outlines how it is future-proofing its business by integrating sustainability directly into its global manufacturing operations to navigate tightening tobacco industry regulations.

Anchored by an EcoVadis Gold rating, the company’s standout 2025 milestone is an impressive, independently verified 51% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2022. Driven by advanced material innovation, their plastic-free ECO line now makes up 24% of their portfolio.

Through strict operational discipline, certified carbon-neutral facilities like their Surabaya site, and a 100% safety-certified workforce, Filtrona is successfully linking technical credibility and environmental responsibility with long-term commercial performance.

Interview Robert Pye

Sustainability expectations are rapidly evolving across industries. How is Filtrona adapting its business and operations to remain future-ready?
Robert Pye, CEO, Filtrona: As the industry evolves, customers are navigating increasing regulatory complexity, rising sustainability expectations, and greater supply chain scrutiny across global markets. At the same time, the transition towards Reduced Risk Products (RRPs) is accelerating demand for more innovative, compliant, and lower-impact solutions.

As a global independent provider of specialty filters and related solutions to the tobacco industry, Filtrona is focused on improving product performance, accelerating speed-to-market, reducing lead times, and simplifying operational complexity across global operations.

Innovation is central to Filtrona’s long-term strategy. Through advanced filtration technologies, sustainable material innovation, and our ECO™ range of plastic-free and biodegradable solutions, we continue developing in future-focused products for next-generation and heated tobacco systems. This is supported by scientific testing, analytical expertise, and regulatory capabilities through our accredited laboratory and Scientific Services division.

Today, 24% of our portfolio comes from sustainable or plastic-free solutions, 37% of our energy mix comes from renewable sources, and 88% of our wood-based materials are sourced from certified or controlled sources. Together with our EcoVadis Gold rating,placing Filtrona among the top 5% globally and these milestones reinforces our position as a science-led and innovation – driven filtration solutions partner.

Filtrona’s Sustainability Report 2025 highlights significant progress across environmental, social, and governance areas. What would you say has been the company’s biggest sustainability milestone this year?
The validation of our near and long-term emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) stands out as our most important milestone in 2025.Achieving a 51% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions against our 2022 baseline, independently assured by SGS reflects how sustainability is increasingly embedded into how we innovate, manufacture, and create long term – value to customers.

These results are driven by strong manufacturing discipline, smarter sourcing, energy efficiency and continuous operational improvement, the same capabilities that strengthen product quality and customer performance. At Filtrona, sustainability is performance-driven, engineering-led and connected to operational excellence and measurable impact.

Filtrona operates within a highly scrutinised industry. How does the company approach sustainability and environmental responsibility within this context?
Operating in a highly regulated industry strengthens our focus on innovation, operational discipline, and technical credibility. Our approach is centred on developing advanced filtration solutions that help customers navigate evolving ESG, EPR, and Scope 3 requirements, while supporting regulatory readiness and long-terms resilience across the value chain.

Across our portfolio from conventional filters to BOREAS next-generation products, we continue advancing lower-impact materials, manufacturing efficiency, and scalable product innovation aligned with changing markets and regulatory expectations. The ISO 14068-1 Carbon Neutrality certification achieved by our Surabaya site further reinforces the operational and technical standards that strengthens long-term customer confidenceand commercial trust.

The report also highlights strong progress in areas such as governance, workplace safety, and employee development. Why are these priorities important to Filtrona’s long-term strategy?

High-performing manufacturing businesses are built on strong operations, skilled people and a culture of accountability. At Filtrona, governance, workplace safety and workforce capability are directly connected to the quality, operational reliability, and supply chain performance. Today, 100% of our employees are covered by ISO 45001-certified health and safety systems.

Through transformation programmes such as the Filtrona Excellence Model (FEM) and Project Nova, we continue strengthening manufacturing performance, leadership accountability, and capability-building across our global operations.

This progress is increasingly being recognised externally. Our Singapore and Indonesia operations have earned Top Employers certification, while Filtrona Hungary was recognised as a National Responsible Employer reinforcing our commitment to building a resilient, future-ready organisation.

Beyond our operations, we continue investing in the communities where we operate. Since 2017, our India programmes have supported nearly 5,000 people through healthcare and education initiatives, recognised by the Rotary National CSR Award for Healthcare in 2025. At Filtrona, sustainable growth is built on operational excellence, strong culture, and long-term community impact.

Looking ahead, what are Filtrona’s key sustainability priorities over the next few years?

The direction for Filtrona is clear: accelerate innovation, strengthen operational excellence, and ensure sustainability delivers measurable business value. Our focus is on expanding lower-impact and plastic-free filtration solutions through advanced material innovation, next-generation product development, and science-led technologies that help customers adapt to evolving regulatory and market expectations.

At the same time, we continue advancing operational transformation across our global manufacturing network. With an SBTi-validated target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 58% by 2030 against our 2022 baseline and 51% already achieved, the focus now is on disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and scaling impact across the business.

Through our Innovation Centres, accredited laboratory, and Scientific Services capabilities, we continue investing in agile, commercially viable and future-ready solutions that strengthen customer partnerships, operational resilience, and long-term value creation. Our Vision 2030 reflects the belief that innovation, sustainability and commercial performance are strongest when fully integrated across the business.

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